Association of low PAPP-A in the first trimester with osbtetrical adverse outcomes

Background: PAPP-A is a placental protein used in obstetrics as a first trimester marker in aneuploidy screening. In the last few years we are knowing more about its placental function. Some studies are showing a association between low PAPP-A and obstetrical adverse events. Aim: Establish an association between low PAPP-A an obstetrical adverse events. Method: This is a retrospective nested case-control study. We identified each singleton pregnancy with a normal phenotype and a low PAPP-A (under percentile 5) in the last 2 years, and match it with a control group of the same population in a 2:1 proportion. It was compared the incidence of each obstetrical adverse outcomes with statistical analysis. Results: We found 285 patients in the case group and match it with 570 patients from control group. It was observed a significative increase in the incidence of prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. A low PAPP-A level was correlated with some obstetrical adverse events, like prematurity (OR 4.27), gestational diabetes (OR 2.40), intrauterine growth restriction (OR 2.36) and gestational hypertension (OR 2.22). We observe no correlation with the rest of outcomes. Conclusions: A low PAPP-A level is related with significative increases of prematurity, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction and gestational hypertension.