In order to calculate the chance of the pregnancy being affected by Down, Edward’s or Patau’s syndromes, we measure the levels of a hormone called PAPP-A, found in the pregnant person’s blood.
As a chance finding of this Combined screen, we might therefore find that you have low levels of PAPP-A (less than 0.415 MoM and this will be found in 5% of the population). Research has found that pregnant persons with low PAPP-A have an increased chance of having a smaller baby, a pre-term delivery or develop high blood pressure in pregnancy, although most people won’t have any of these complications.
It is important that you understand that when you consent for the Combined screen, we might find low PAPP-A levels. If this was the case, we would inform you and offer extra follow-up to monitor the pregnancy more closely (Consultant care, low level aspirin throughout the pregnancy and serial growth scans in the third trimester). This would hopefully allow us to catch early signs of the complications that may be associated with low levels of PAPP-A. You would be free to decline the extra follow-up if you wish so.
If you are found to have low PAPP-A, our Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator will send you a letter with a leaflet and invite you for a review in a Consultant clinic where the follow-up care will be organised.