Investigating the Relationship between Fetal DNA Fraction in Cell-Free DNA Test and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women Referring to Perinatology Clinics

Shabnam  Vazifekhah; Ali  Wahhabi; Mahsa Rouhi  Gharehbagh

doi:10.18502/jimc.v8i3.18793

Shabnam Vazifekhah Maternal and Childhood Obesity Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Ali Wahhabi Department of Medical Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Mahsa Rouhi Gharehbagh Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v8i3.18793

Keywords: Diabetes, Female, Gestational, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Pregnancy outcome, Premature birth, Preterm premature rupture of the membranes

Abstract

Background: Screening is done by examining the Fetal Fraction (FF) in cell-free DNA to find fetal aneuploidy. In this study, the relationship between FF obtained in weeks 10–20 of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as demographic variables of mothers were investigated.

Methods: This study included pregnant women (n=685) referred to perinatology clinics in West Azerbaijan from April 2018 to March 2021 who underwent cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening in weeks 10 to 22 of pregnancy. The demographic variables of the mothers were extracted and recorded at the time of sample collection and the pregnancy outcomes at the time of delivery from their records.

Results: Two patients had cervical insufficiency, 10 participants had preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM), and the frequency of NICU Hospitalization was 0.9% (6 person). The distribution estimates FF less than the 25^th percentile as less than normal, with 197 (29.5%) individuals having FF less than 4.36. Body Mass Index (BMI) had an opposite relationship with FF (p-value=0.001 and B=0.296). Only the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) patients was different between the two groups (p=0.032). The area under the diagram was significant for the outcomes of preterm delivery (0.503), pregnancy-related high blood pressure (0.599), and GDM (0.609, according to the ROC diagram).

Conclusion: Based on the present study, FF assessment at 10–20 weeks of pregnancy can predict the possibility of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced blood pressure, and premature delivery during pregnancy to a weak to moderate extent.