The importance of the double test in identification of high risk pregnancies for chromosomal diseases development

• Main Authors: Andreea Liteanu, Marius Mihasan, Vlad Artenie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași 2010-02-01
• Series: Analele Ştiinţifice Ale Universităţii Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iași,Sectiunea II A : Genetica si Biologie Moleculara
• Online Access: http://www.gbm.bio.uaic.ro/index.php/gbm/article/view/855
• ISSN: 1582-3571; 2248-3276

he double test plays an important role for the identification of chromosomal diseases and for the prenatal screening in the first pregnancy semester. The current work is focused on the investigation of free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free ȕ-HCG) and pregnancy- associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels (markers part of the double- test) from the blood serum of 132 pregnant women in order to identify the high risk pregnancy for chromosomal diseases development. Also the levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free ȕ-HCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were investigated with respect to the maternal age. The interpretation of the results was achieved using the PRISCA v. 4.0 software, considering also the gestational age, smoking, in vitro fertilization, diabetic status and the medical history of the pregnant women. All investigated patients were in in the first semester of pregnancy, the specific period for tacking the double test. The biochemical investigations showed that most of the investigated patients presented normal values, within the interval reported in the literature and only a few cases were identified as being with high risk for developing trisomy for the chromosome 21 or 18.