Low first trimester maternal serum PAPP-A concentrations in women with non-cavity-distorting intramural uterine fibroids.

Abstract

Reliable aneuploidy risk estimation in first trimester is prominently interconnected with accurate assessment of maternal serum biomarkers. Some maternal factors like insulin-dependent diabetes, weight, and rhesus status are known to alter levels of these biomarkers. Adjustment of biomarker values for specific factor is crucial to avoid excessive invasive procedures or missed diagnoses. We aimed to investigate the effects of noncavity distorting intramural uterine fibroids on first trimester aneuploidy screening test maternal serum biomarkers. Pregnant women who underwent first trimester aneuploidy screening test in a single tertiary center between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively assessed. One hundred ninety-eight women were found to have at least one noncavity distorting intramural uterine leiomyoma (Figo type 3-6) of at least 2cm diameter and remaining women were assigned as controls. First trimester aneuploidy screening test parameters were compared. Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) MoMs were found significantly lower in leiomyoma group in comparison to control group (1.19 ± 0.60 MoM vs. 1.40 ± 0.73 MoM, p=0.002). PAPP-A MoMs in women with leiomyomas larger than 5.5cm were significantly lower in comparison to both control group and women with ≤5.5cm leiomyomas (0.82 ± 0.376 vs. 1.40 ± 0.73, p < 0.001; 0.82 ± 0.376 vs. 1.33 ± 0.61 p < 0.001, respectively). PAPP-A MoM and size of leiomyoma were found inversely correlated when fibroid size exceeds 5.5cm (r=-0.467, p < 0.001). Noncavity distorting intramural uterine leiomyomas >5.5cm are associated with low first trimester PAPP-A MoMs (<0.5). PAPP-A concentrations are inversely correlated with fibroid size in women with >5.5cm intramural uterine leiomyomas. Fibroids ≤5.5cm are not associated with alterations in first trimester aneuploidy screening test parameters.