Maternal serum analyte levels after first-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to assess the effect of multifetal pregnancy reduction on maternal serum levels of analytes used for screening low-risk women for fetal chromosome abnormalities and neural tube defects.

STUDY DESIGN

Peripheral blood samples were obtained between 15.09 and 20.9 weeks' gestation from 10 consecutive women who had undergone first-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction. The samples were assayed for levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol. Analyte concentrations were interpreted within our maternal serum screening program.

RESULTS

Levels of alpha-fetoprotein were significantly elevated in all samples. In each pregnancy levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol were consistent with the number of continuing gestations.

CONCLUSIONS

First-trimester multifetal reduction does not alter second-trimester levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol. Further study is needed to determine whether these analytes could be used to screen pregnancies for fetal chromosome abnormalities after first-trimester multifetal reduction.