Maternal serum concentrations of CA-125 in second trimester pregnancy complicated by congenital fetal anomalies

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the value of maternal serum CA-125 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies w ith or without hydramnios. Study design: The study population (n=40) consis ted of the following four groups of patients: (1) 10 women with abnormal ma ternal serum alpha fetal protein (MSAFP) in whom no fetal anomalies were ob served; (2) 10 women in whom fetal anomalies were diagnosed in addition to abnormal MSAFP; (3) 10 women with fetal anomalies accompanied by hydramnios and abnormal MSAF, and (4) 10 women had normal MSAFP and were diagnosed wi th hydramnios without fetal anomaly. The control group consisted of 10 pati ents who were matched for gestational age with normal MSAFP and normal ultr asonographic examination. In all 50 cases MSAFP and maternal serum CA-125 l evels were assessed. CA-125 was measured using OC 125 monoclonal antibody ( IMX CA-125, Abott Lab. LL) and a value of >20 U/ml was defined as abnormal. Results: Maternal serum CA-125 levels were significantly higher in the stu dy group than in the control group, 19.8+/-15.9 U/ml and 9.9+/-4.0 U/ml (P= 0.015). The difference was even greater when patients with malformed fetuse s and hydramnios were compared to those with fetal anomalies and normal amo unt of amniotic fluid, 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml and 7.2+/-2.1 U/ml, respectively (P =0.0005). The maternal serum CA-125 levels in patients with hydramnios but without fetal anomalies were significantly lower when compared with those o f the malformed fetuses and hydramnios, 9.8+/-2.3 U/ml and 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml , respectively (P=0.002). Conclusion: Maternal serum CA-125 is lacking in v alue for screening fetal structural anomalies as a significant increase in maternal serum CA-125 levels was found only in patients with fetal anomalie s accompanied by hydramnios. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.