Author/Editor		Brajenović-Milić, Bojana; Tišlarić, Dubravka; Bačić, Josip; Paravić, Jadranka; Slivar, Anatelo; Kapović, Miljenko; Košec, Vesna; Ristić, Smiljana; Rajhvajn, Branko
Title		Screening for Down's syndrome and neural tube defect in Croatia. A regional prospective study
Type		članek
Source		Fetal Diagn Ther
Vol. and No.		Letnik 13, št. 6
Publication year		1998
Volume		str. 367-71
Language		eng
Abstract		Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome and open neural tube defects using alpha-fetoprotein and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin as serum markers. Methods: 3, 188 women underwent testing between 14th and 22nd week of pregnancy. Of all tested patients, 25.4% were >/=35 years old. A cut-off risk of >/=1:250 for Down's syndrome and MS-AFP >/=2.0 MoM for open neural tube defect were considered screen-positive. Results: The detection rate for Down's syndrome was 77.8% (7/9) with 8.2% screen-positive rate (7.9% false-positive rate). When evaluated separately, in patients younger than 35 and in those >/=35 years old, the screen-positive rates were 3.1 and 23.3%, respectively. A total of 52 (1.6%) were found screen-positive for open neural tube defect; 2 cases of encephalocela and 1 case of gastroschisis were confirmed prenatally. Conclusion: The respectable number of cases with trisomy 21 identified in this study confirms that routine mid-trimester screening for Down's syndrome including MS-AFP, free beta-hCG and maternal age is useful in identifying pregnancies at increased risk.
Descriptors		PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS ADULT AMNIOCENTESIS CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN CROATIA DOWN SYNDROME FALSE POSITIVE REACTIONS FETAL DISEASES GESTATIONAL AGE KARYOTYPING MATERNAL AGE NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS PREGNANCY PROSPECTIVE STUDIES ALPHA-FETOPROTEINS