MATERNAL SERUM BIOCHEMICAL SCREENING FOR PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS OTHER THAN ANEUPLOIDY

The link between a wide range of pregnancy complications and unexplain ed elevated mid-trimester levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein ( MSAFP) and maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (MShCG), with its subunits, is becoming established. This link seems to be stronger when levels of both MSAFP and MShCG are elevated. In addition, it seem s that the greater the change in levels of MSAFP or MShCG, or both, th e greater the subsequent risk of pregnancy complications. By using the se markers as a screening test it may be possible to identify high-ris k pregnancies as early as 15 weeks' gestation and manage them more int ensively.