Perinatoloji Dergisi 2005; 1(1): 35-38

Online published date : 1 March 2005

The effect of fetal gender on the markers of first trimester Down syndrome screening

Devrim Ertunç, Ekrem Tok, Gürkan Yazıcı, Mustafa Kaplanoğlu, Meral Aban, Saffet Dilek

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Anabilim Dalı, Mersin

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fetal gender on first trimester Down syndrome screening markers.

Methods: 256 pregnancies in that fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum free b-hCG and PAPP-A were evaluated and delivered in our clinics were included in the study. We investigated if these markers differed on the basis of fetal gender.

Results: Fetal nuchal translucency was measured 0.11 mm more in male fetuses than in female fetuses (P = 0.026). Although free b-hCG and PAPP-A levels were higher in female fetuses the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The data of previous literature and the results of the present study suggest that first trimester markers differ on the basis of fetal gender, however it has no clinical meaning.

Keywords

First trimester Down syndrome screening, Fetal gender.