Js. Dungan et al., POSITIVE SERUM SCREENING FOR FETAL DOWN-SYNDROME DOES NOT PREDICT ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN ABSENCE OF FETAL ANEUPLOIDY, Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, 1(1), 1994, pp. 55-58
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether false-po
sitive maternal serum screening for fetal Down syndrome is predictive
of poor pregnancy outcome. METHODS: The pregnancy outcomes of 99 women
having positive serum screening for fetal Down syndrome (study group)
-based upon maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), unconjugated est
riol (uE3), hCG, and maternal age-were compared to the outcomes of mat
ched control patients having negative serum screening results (control
group). The outcome indices analyzed were fetal death, intrauterine g
rowth retardation (IUGR), preeclampsia, and fetal anomalies. RESULTS:
Between the study group and the control group, there were no statistic
ally significant differences in pregnancy outcome with respect to feta
l death, IUGR, preeclampsia, or fetal anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Our find
ings demonstrate no apparent increase in the adverse perinatal outcome
s analyzed in women having unexplained positive serum screening for fe
tal Down syndrome. Although further investigation is needed, these res
ults provide no evidence to support increased antepartum surveillance
in such patients.