First and second trimester biochemical markers in familial mediterranean fever.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to investigate whether the maternal serum concentrations of first and second trimester serum analytes are altered in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) pregnancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The screening tests were compared in a series of 16 serum samples from FMF pregnancies and in a cohort of 48 pregnant women with normal pregnancy. Serum samples were obtained between 11 and 13 weeks; 16 and 18 weeks gestation.

RESULTS

Serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels, expressed as multiples of the median (0.9 ± 0.45 MoM) in the control group, were significantly higher than FMF patients (0.6 ± 0.3 MoM) (p = 0.027). Analyses of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and oestriol levels showed no significant differences between FMF and normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that low levels of PAPP-A are associated with FMF.