False positive serum biochemical screening and subsequent fetal loss in women less than 35 years of age

• Published in: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2001-06, Vol.108 (6), p.589-593
• Main Authors: Antsaklis, Aris J., Papantoniou, Nikolaos E., Daskalakis, George J., Mesogitis, Spyros A., Kitmirides, Stylianos J., Michalas, Stylianos S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; alpha-Fetoproteins - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Chorionic Gonadotropin - blood; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Down Syndrome - diagnosis; Estradiol - blood; False Positive Reactions; Female; Fetal Death - blood; Fetal Death - prevention & control; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Prenatal Diagnosis - methods; Prenatal Diagnosis - standards; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1470-0328; 1471-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00137.x

Objective To examine the fetal loss rate in women younger than 35 years of age following a false positive serum biochemical screening. Design Retrospective analysis of case records between 1991 and 1998. Setting Fetal medicine unit of a large teaching hospital. Population Four hundred and fifty‐six women with singleton pregnancies and false positive serum biochemical screening for Down's Syndrome (study group). Nine hundred and twelve matched controls with true negative serum biochemical screening (control group). Methods Women of both groups had a second trimester serum screening for Down's Syndrome using alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and unconjugated oestriol (uE3); and they also underwent genetic amniocentesis. Results The overall fetal loss rate in the study group was 5.3% (24/456), compared with 1.65% (15/912) in the control group RR 3.2, 95% CI 1.7‐5.99; P