Increased free fetal DNA levels in early pregnancy plasma of women who subsequently develop preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

Objective: To determine if maternal plasma ffDNA is increased early in pregnancies which subsequently develop preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).Methods: Blood was obtained at 11–14 weeks and plasma stored. Among those who delivered a male infant and had a birth weight under the tenth centile and/or PE, we divided them into those who delivered before 35 weeks (9) and those who delivered after this gestation (15). A third group with uncomplicated pregnancies was used as controls (24). Real time‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was carried out to detect the multi‐copy Y chromosome associated DSY14 gene.Results: There were no differences between the ffDNA levels in the group delivered after 35 weeks and the control group (2.23ge/mL–1.61ge/mL p = 0.39). However, the levels of ffDNA at 11–14 weeks were statistically, significantly higher in patients that delivered before 35 weeks (4.34ge/mL–1.61ge/mL p = 0.0018). A logistic regression analysis shows that for every unit (1ge/mL) in which ffDNA increases, the likelihood of having PE or a fetus growing under the tenth centile delivered before 35 weeks increases by 1.67 times (CI 1.13–2.47).Conclusion: The concentration of ffDNA is significantly higher even during early pregnancy, in patients who subsequently develop PE and/or IUGR and are delivered before 35 weeks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.