The relationship between TSH levels, maternal characteristics and racial group of the aneuploidy screening

Abstract

First-trimester maternal screening is a widely used test for detecting fetal aneuploidies and neural tube defects for over two decades. Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) are two serum biomarkers that are analyzed in this screening. The thyroid hormone is a critical hormone for normal pregnancy and fetal development. During the first half of pregnancy, placental and fetal development depends on the thyroid hormone levels in the mother. Therefore, thyroid abnormalities in the mother can result in unfavorable pregnancy outcomes such as intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, hypertensive disorders, premature birth, and an increase in the risk of low IQ in the newborn. In this study, we analyzed the first-trimester screening data collected from 410 pregnant women who were seen at Yale University Hospital Prenatal Unit; and checked for possible correlations of TSH levels with maternal characteristics, racial group PAPP-A MoM levels.