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Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2022; 226(02): 92-97
DOI: 10.1055/a-1579-1338
Original Article

Can the Cell-free DNA Test Predict Placenta Accreta Spectrum or Placenta Previa Totalis?

Duygu Adiyaman 
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
,
Melda Kuyucu
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
,
Bahar Konuralp Atakul
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Balıkesir State Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey
,
Dilara Can
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Mehmet Özeren
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
,
Altuğ Koç
4   Medical Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
,
Yaşar Bekir Kutbay
5   Genetic Diagnosis Center, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Şener Arıkan
5   Genetic Diagnosis Center, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Deniz Öztekin
6   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Izmir Bakircay University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
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Abstract

Background Following the discovery that fetal DNA originates from the trophoblastic cells of the placenta, the contribution of the cell-free DNA test in placenta-related obstetric complications has begun to be investigated. Compared to uncomplicated pregnancies, higher fetal fractions were detected in placenta accreta spectrum and placenta previa, which are among placenta-related obstetric complications. However, this data applies only to advanced gestational weeks.

Aim To investigate the possible predictive value of fetal fraction in cell-free DNA tests in pregnancies with placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum in early gestational ages.

Materials and Methods This study was conducted in women who were screened via cell-free DNA tests for common aneuploidies in the first and second trimester and subsequently diagnosed with placenta previa or placenta accreta spectrum. After the diagnosis was confirmed with a C-section, fetal fractions were retrospectively compared to a control group with a history of an uncomplicated C-section who were also previously screened by cell-free DNA test.

Results The median and interquartile range (IQR) of fetal fractions for placenta previa (n=19), placenta accreta spectrum (n=7), and control groups (n=85) were 8.1 (6–10), 6.8 (6.7–10.7), and 7.1 (4.7–9.65), respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed among the three groups in terms of fetal fractions (p=0.587).

Conclusions According to our data, we did not observe any relationship between placental invasion abnormalities vs. control group or placenta previa vs. control group using the fetal fractions of the cell-free DNA test. Furthermore, we could not confirm a predictive role and/or any additional clinical contribution. We believe that future studies focusing on placental mRNA might be more helpful than cell-free fetal DNA testing.

Key words

cell-free DNA test - fetal fraction - placenta accreta spectrum - placenta previa


Publication History

Received: 24 May 2021

Accepted after revision: 26 July 2021

Article published online:
25 August 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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