First and second trimester biochemical markers in familial mediterranean fever

F. Turkcapar, Y. Engin-Üstün, Ö.Y. Simsek, R. Deveer, N. Danisman, U. Dilmen, L. Mollamahmutoglu

Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, and Neonatology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Woman’s Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. fcapar@yahoo.com

 

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• Obstetrics

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate whether the maternal serum concentrations of first and second trimester serum analytes are altered in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) pregnancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The screening tests were compared in a series of 16 serum samples from FMF pregnancies and in a cohort of 48 pregnant women with normal pregnancy. Serum samples were obtained between 11 and 13 weeks; 16 and 18 weeks gestation.

RESULTS: Serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels, expressed as multiples of the median (0.9 ± 0.45 MoM) in the control group, were significantly higher than FMF patients (0.6 ± 0.3 MoM) (p = 0.027). Analyses of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and oestriol levels showed no significant differences between FMF and normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that low levels of PAPP-A are associated with FMF.

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