Case 18-20 Flashcards
Criteria for screening tests
Common disease, causes significant morbidity/mortality Cheap test Non-invasive test Long latent/asymptomatic period Treatable if detected early Natural history adequately understood
Screening vs diagnostic tests
Healthy patient vs suspicious patient Cheap vs expensive Not definitive vs definitive High false positive rate vs low false positive rate Low false negative vs low false negative
Non invasive prenatal tests
Ultrasound (from 11 weeks)
Doppler studies
MRI
Maternal serum biochemistry
Invasive prenatal tests
Amniocentesis: 15-18 wks. Complications - miscarriage, transient amniotic fluid leakage, intrauterine infection
Chorionic villus sampling: 8-13 wks. Complications - miscarriage, infection, bleeding, limb defects. Problems - placental mosaicism, maternal contamination
Cordocentesis
Cordocentesis
Down syndrome 1st trimester testing
11-13 weeks
Beta hCG increased
PAPP-A decreased
Nuchal translucency
Follow up with counselling, amniocentesis and karyotyping
hCG
Glycoprotein made by the syncytiotrophoblasts
Alpha subunit common to TSH, FSH, LH
Beta subunit unique to hCG
Stimulates corpus luteum in early pregnancy
AFP
Dominant fetal plasma protein
Initially produced by the yolk sac and then by the liver
Levels peak at the end of the first trimester
Marker for HCC and germ cell tumours
Oestriol
Primary oestrogen of pregnancy
10% is unconjugated
Increases with gestational age
Requires fetal adrenals, liver and placenta to be functional
Dimeric inhibin A
Produced in the pituitary, ovaries and placenta
Negative feedback regulator of FSH
Placenta produces large amounts to completely suppress FSH
Not produced by men
PAPP-A
Glycoprotein produced by the syncytiotrophoblast
Cleaves insulin like growth factor binding protein
Marker of acute coronary syndrome
Down syndrome second trimester screening
15-23 weeks Triple test: AFP decreased hCG increased Unconjugated E3 decreased
Add dimeric inhibin A for quad test (increased)
Edward syndrome clinical features
Cardiac defects
Renal anomalies
Severe mental retardation
CNS defects
50% die within 2 months , 5-10% live to 1 year
Edward syndrome 1st trimester testing
Decreased PAPP-A
Decreased hCG
Increased NT
Edward syndrome 2nd trimester screening
Decreased AFP, hCG, uE3
Cell free DNA
Fetal RhD
Fetal sex determination
NTD teratogens
Diabetes
Anticonvulsants
Alcohol
Hyperthermia
Genetic counselling session
Information gathering: pedigree, pregnancy course, teratogens, psychosocial circumstances
Information giving: test results, implications, options
Planning: investigations, TOP, follow up and support, future
Periconceptual folic acid
1 month before and 3 months after conception
400 micrograms for normal risk
4 mg for high risk