Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: Maternal serum samples were collected from 100 unaffected pregnancies and 20 cases of fetal Down's syndrome during gestational weeks 15-20 for routine triple marker screening, and were stored frozen after clinical assay. Levels of inhibin A, total inhibin, alpha inhibin precursor (pro-alphaC), and activin were compared retrospectively in the Down's syndrome cases and control samples. RESULTS: There was no association of the inhibin or activin levels with gestational age or length of freezer storage, and therefore single median values were determined for the unaffected pregnancies for each analyte. Multiples of the unaffected median (MoM) values were calculated for all cases, showing that inhibin A (1.95 MoM) provided the best discrimination between cases and controls, followed by total inhibin (1.37 MoM). Mann-Whitney U analysis showed significant group differences in inhibin A (P = 0.0001) and total inhibin (P = 0.0005). In contrast, alpha inhibin precursor (0.81 MoM) and activin (1.16 MoM) levels in Down's syndrome cases were not significantly different from those in unaffected patients. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | G M Lambert-Messerlian, J A Canick, G E Palomaki, A L Schneyer |
Journal | Journal of medical screening
(J Med Screen)
Vol. 3
Issue 2
Pg. 58-62
( 1996)
ISSN: 0969-1413 [Print] England |
PMID | 8849760
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Protein Precursors
- inhibin-alpha subunit precursor
- Activins
- Inhibins
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Topics |
- Activins
- Case-Control Studies
- Down Syndrome
(blood, diagnosis)
- Female
- Gestational Age
- Humans
- Inhibins
(blood)
- Maternal-Fetal Exchange
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Trimester, Second
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Protein Precursors
(blood)
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