First-trimester maternal serum ADAM12-s and PAPP-A levels are altered in pregnancies conceived after assisted reproduction techniques (ART).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to estimate whether the maternal serum levels of A disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 12 (ADAM12-s), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (fβ-hCG) are altered in assisted reproduction techniques (ART) pregnancies.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study with a control group was performed. Two hundred eighty-three ART pregnancies and 1008 controls were studied. The patients were divided into groups according to the type of conception: (1) controls, (2) fresh embryo transfer (ET) following controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), (3) fresh ET following COH and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), (4) frozen ET during natural menstrual cycle (NC-FET), and (5) frozen ET using hormone replacement therapy. The cases and controls were matched for gestational and maternal age and for the storage time of the samples.

RESULTS

The ADAM12-s levels were statistically significantly higher in the entire ART group, IVF and ICSI groups, and NC-FET group when compared with those in the controls. The PAPP-A levels were decreased only in the ICSI group compared with those in the controls. fβ-hCG levels were not altered in assisted pregnancies. The ADAM12-s levels tended to increase with advanced gestational age. ADAM12-s levels were correlated with PAPP-A and fβ-hCG levels in several subgroups of ART pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

ADAM12-s and PAPP-A levels are altered in several subgroups of ART pregnancies. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings.