Maternal Serum Triple Screening Test and Pregnancy Outcome in Elderly Sudanese Pregnant Ladies in Khartoum State-Sudan

Abstract

Background: Because of the dramatic increase in marital age among Sudanese ladies to far above 30 years, the possibility to deliver infants with congenital defects or diseases is thought to be associated with this situation. This fact is well established and documented in previous studies done in the United States of America. infants with birth defects is not the only disastrous outcome, pregnancy and delivery complications, abortion, stillbirth are also known consequences. The aim of this study. to detect a possible association between increased maternal age, and Triple Screening Test results. And compare the findings of the Triple Screening Test results with abnormal pregnancy outcome among Sudanese pregnant ladies. Materials and Methods: Ninety one pregnant ladies accepted to participate in this study. Participants were assigned to two groups: study group including 69 (75.8%) women equal to and above 35 years and control group including 22 (24.2%) women less than 30 years. Structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic infonnation from all participants along with family history. Clinical examinations including ultra-sound for the determination of gestational age were also performed. Blood samples were collected from all participants during the 14"‘ to 20"‘ week of gestational age. Sera were separated and used for the determination of human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha fetoprotein, and free estriol concentrations using standardized quantitative methods (ELISA) collectively known as the Triple Screening Test. Results: ln the study group, participants delivered 57 (82.6%) normal healthy infants. Twelve ladies (17.4%) delivered infants with adverse dimorphic features. The defects varied; four (5.8%) had stillbirth, four (5.8%) had abortion at the second trimester, three (4.3%) had premature delivery, and one (1.4%) had intrauterine death. And matching control group, none of the participants (0%) give birth to an infant with congenital defect. Highly significant positive correlation was detected between increase in maternal age and abnormal pregnancy outcome. The Triple Screening Test against the pregnancy outcome in study group, showed statistically significant differences between levels of B-HCG, AFP, and Free estriol and pregnancy outcomes with P-values of 0.000, 0.5240, and 0.000 were obtained using Pearson Chi-squire test of significance, respectively. Conclusion: study conclude that abnormal pregnancy outcome is strongly associated with increase in matemal age. Also there were strongly association between the Triple Screening Test and abnormal pregnancy outcome.