Does Endometriosis Affect PAPP-A Concentration in First Trimester Fetal Screening Test?

Abstract

Original research article produced in increasing concentrations with a peak at delivery (2). Maternal serum PAPP-A has prognostic value in first trimester screening test for aneuploidies in combination with maternal age, free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG) and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurements (3-5). Several studies indicate an association between abnormal PAPP-A levels and some adverse perinatal and birth outcomes. In fact, low first trimester PAPP-A relates to preterm birth, early onset preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation and threatened abortion (6-12); high first trimester PAPP-A relates to placenta accreta (13). PAPP-A has been considered as a marker of oxidative stress that could be responsible in the pathogenesis of several important adverse perinatal outcomes due to placental insufficiency like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation (14-25). As marker of preeclampsia, PAPP-A in combination with other biomarkers and maternal characteristics was considered a more reliable prognosticator than PAPP-A alone (26). Serum PAPP-A concentration can be influenced by several factors such as method of conception, ethnicity, maternal weight, gestational age, smoking status.