RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the value of maternal serum CA-125 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies with or without hydramnios. STUDY DESIGN: The study population (n=40) consisted of the following four groups of patients: (1) 10 women with abnormal maternal serum alpha fetal protein (MSAFP) in whom no fetal anomalies were observed; (2) 10 women in whom fetal anomalies were diagnosed in addition to abnormal MSAFP; (3) 10 women with fetal anomalies accompanied by hydramnios and abnormal MSAF, and (4) 10 women had normal MSAFP and were diagnosed with hydramnios without fetal anomaly. The control group consisted of 10 patients who were matched for gestational age with normal MSAFP and normal ultrasonographic examination. In all 50 cases MSAFP and maternal serum CA-125 levels were assessed. CA-125 was measured using OC 125 monoclonal antibody (IMX CA-125, Abott Lab. IL) and a value of >20 U/ml was defined as abnormal. RESULTS: Maternal serum CA-125 levels were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group, 19.8+/-15.9 U/ml and 9.9+/-4.0 U/ml (P=0.015). The difference was even greater when patients with malformed fetuses and hydramnios were compared to those with fetal anomalies and normal amount of amniotic fluid, 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml and 7.2+/-2.1 U/ml, respectively (P=0.0005). The maternal serum CA-125 levels in patients with hydramnios but without fetal anomalies were significantly lower when compared with those of the malformed fetuses and hydramnios, 9.8+/-2.3 U/ml and 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml, respectively (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum CA-125 is lacking in value for screening fetal structural anomalies as a significant increase in maternal serum CA-125 levels was found only in patients with fetal anomalies accompanied by hydramnios.
