Evaluation of maternal serum immunoreactive inhibin as a first trimester marker of Down's syndrome

摘要: Summary BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Maternal Serum immunoreactive inhibin has been shown to be significantly elevated in Down's affected pregnancies the second trimester, suggesting that it may useful prenatal diagnosis. We have investigated whether is similarly first trimester. DESIGN Stored maternal sera from women with and chromosomally normal control were retrieved for analysis. These had collected prospectively at either 11 or 12 weeks gestation as a routine antenatal booking procedure. SUBJECTS From records, identified having pregnancy. For each of these, 4 controls matched duration-of-storage also identified. MEASUREMENTS Two different immunoassays evaluated, one using an antibody raised against 31 kDa bovine other, commercial two-site assay, two antibodies directed distinct α-subunit epitopes. RESULTS Neither assay detected significant effect on serum levels. After combining data both gestations, no difference between samples was detected. However, analysis separately revealed inhibln levels unaffected (mean ± SEM 3186 195 vs 2020 172ng/l, P < 0·01) but not weeks. The commercial, did detect gestation. In addition, there poor association results assays. CONCLUSIONS suggest inhibin, by these assays, will late trimester marker syndrome assays species pregnancy serum.