Adding ADAM12 in risk calculation program does not improve the detection rate of trisomies 18 and 13 in first trimester screening

Abstract

Objective: To investigate first trimester levels of ADAM12 in trisomy 18 and 13 pregnancies and whether incorporating ADAM12 in the LifeCycle™ risk calculation program of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 screenings can improve the detection rates of trisomies 18 and 13. Methods: ADAM12 was incorporated in the LifeCycle™ risk calculation program. A specific algorithm with cut-off of 1:200 for screening of trisomies 18 and 13 was employed. Detection rates for trisomies 18 and 13 were calculated. Results: There was a significant difference in ADAM12 levels between trisomy 18 pregnancies and controls during the gestation weeks 9 + 0 – 10 + 6, but not thereafter. In trisomy 13 pregnancies there was no difference in weeks 9 + 0 – 10 + 6, but there was in 11 + 0 – 12 + 6. The specific algorithms for trisomies 18 and 13 combined with algorithm for trisomy 21 yielded detection rates of 73.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The combined false positive rate was 4.6%. Adding ADAM12, the detection rate for trisomy 18 was the same, at 73.7% and for trisomy 13, at 66.7%. Conclusion: ADAM12 did not improve the detection rate.

Keywords::

• ADAM12
• down screening
• first trimester
• trisomy 18 screening
• trisomy 13 screening

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mrs Sirkka-Liisa Huovinen, Mrs Salme Juntunen and the staff of the Hormone Laboratory at Oulu University Hospital for performing the ADAM12.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.