Analysis of Serum Triple-Marker Screening in In Vitro Fertilization and Naturally Conceived Pregnancy

Lee, Jeong Lyol; Lee, Young Sim; Lee, Sang Hag; Choi, Jung Ho; Chung, In Bai; Lee, Young Jin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare and analysis the result of second trimester maternal serum triple marker screening test for Down syndrome and open neural tube defects in singleton pregnancies conceived by conventional in vitro fertilization- embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with that of the naturally conceived pregnancies.
METHODS
Maternal serum screening tests during the second trimester in 49 singleton pregnancies conceived by IVF-ET and 813 singleton pregnancies conceived naturally of whom delivery outcome was normal in each other were analyzed from April 1997 to June 2000.
RESULTS
4 (8.2%) out of 49 cases of IVF-ET singleton pregnancies compared with 62 (7.6%) out of 813 cases of naturally conceived pregnancies had a positive RESULTS: for Down syndrome or open neural tube defects. The median level of the triple markers were 1.03 0.47 multiples of the median (MoM) in IVF-ET pregnancies vs 1.05+/-0.39 MoM in natural pregnancies for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), 1.11+/-0.64 vs 1.19+/-1.13 MoM for unconjugated estriol (uE3) and 1.21+/-0.56 vs 1.11+/-0.59 MoM for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
CONCLUSION
The positive rate of triple test and the median values of triple markers for Down syndrome and open neural tube defect between two groups were not different in terms of statistical significance. To provide an objective assessment of an individual patient's risk of fetal abnormality, the impact of IVF-ET on triple marker biochemistry should be studied further in larger samples and adjustments made if appropriate.