First-Trimester Screening Tests and Perinatal Outcomes

Abstract

Aim: Early diagnosis of trisomies occupies an important place in the working life of perinatologists and obstetricians. Early diagnosis of this condition is very important in raising a healthy generation. Early diagnosis informs decisions such as mental and physical preparation after birth or termination of pregnancy. Early detection of this risk is ensured by testing fetal nuchal translucency (NT), free human chorionic gonadotropin-β (free-βhCG) and pregnancy-related plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels at appropriate intervals. Also, with the help of these tests, perinatal risks such as chromosomal abnormalities, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and preterm birth can be detected, and precautionary measures can be taken. In this study, we are trying to find out if it is possible to predict IUGR using these tests in the first trimester and evaluating the infants born here. Perhaps retrospective evaluation of these tests can be used to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes or, if necessary, to reduce the incidence of complications by delivering babies in more appropriate centers. Method: One of the hospitals included in this study is a training and research hospital and the other is a state hospital with active birth management, where the number of births is higher than the regional average. This study was conducted using data obtained by pediatrics and obstetrics by scanning the records of patients who had gone to their centers for postnatal care and the babies who were born. The population that served as the control group was reached in the same way. The period for the study was limited to two years. Results: 257 patients who had enrolled in centers for prenatal care over two years were included in the study. While 132 healthy pregnant women participated in the study as a control group, 125 pregnant women diagnosed with IUGR were included in the study. When the screening tests were compared in the first trimester, the mean PAPP-A level was higher in the control group than in the patient group (p=0.006). Free β-hCG was also higher in the control group (p=0.024). The result after performing the necessary statistical adjustments PAPP-A showed the statistical significance of its value in the analysis. However, the same tests did not show the same success in the IUGR group and were not statistically successful in predicting poor neonatal outcomes. Conclusion: In this study, the use of PAPP-A level in the first trimester has been shown to provide successful results in estimating IUGR that may occur later in pregnancy. However, no parameter has shown the same predictive success in predicting poor neonatal outcomes.