Triple-test screening in in vitro fertilization pregnancies

Purpose: To determine whether the results of triple-test analysis differ be tween spontaneous and IVF pregnancies. Methods: The study population consisted of 140 women with singleton pregnan cies, 70 by IVF, and 70 by spontaneous conception. The groups were matched for maternal age, gestational week, and laboratory batch. The levels of all triple-test markers-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and unconjugated estriol (u-E-3)-were compared between the groups. Results: Significantly, higher HCG levels were detected in the patients wit h IVF pregnancies than in the control group (1.31 +/- 0.8 vs. 0.95 +/- 0.5 multiple of the medians, respectively, (p < 0.006), but there were no signi ficant differences in AFP ol u-E-3 levels. Overall, 18.5% of the IVF group were found to be screen-positive as compared with 11.4% of the control grou p (difference nor statistically significant). Only 8 IVF pregnancies (11.4% ) reached the lowest calculated risk possible (1:9999) compared with 17 (24 .2%) in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings support previous data demonstrating elevated mate rnal serum HCG in NF patients in comparison with spontaneous ones.