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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 3/2012

01-03-2012 | Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The quadruple test for Down syndrome screening in pregnant women of advanced maternal age

Authors: Ji Young Kwon, In Yang Park, Seong-min Kwon, Chan Joo Kim, Jong Chul Shin

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether or not the quadruple test for screening Down syndrome is an effective method to replace direct amniocentesis in pregnant women ≥35 years of age.

Methods

This study analyzed the screening performance of the quadruple test according to maternal age at delivery among subjects who had a quadruple screening test at 1 of 4 hospitals during a 5-year period and for whom data on fetal chromosomal abnormalities were available.

Results

The study population of 9,435 pregnant women was divided into 3 groups according to maternal age: 6,922 women were <35 years of age; 2,284 were 35–39 years of age; and 229 women ≥40 years of age. The detection and false-positive rates of the quadruple screening test for Down or Edward syndrome in the 3 groups of women were 80 and 6.6%, 200 and 15.8%, and 100 and 35.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

Under conditions in which first trimester screening test is not available, the quadruple screening test is a better choice than direct amniocentesis for pregnancies complicated by advanced maternal age. When providing genetic counseling, we need to explain the accurate detection and false-positive rates of the screening test according to maternal age.
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Metadata
Title
The quadruple test for Down syndrome screening in pregnant women of advanced maternal age
Authors
Ji Young Kwon
In Yang Park
Seong-min Kwon
Chan Joo Kim
Jong Chul Shin
Publication date
01-03-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2052-1

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