First-trimester risk assessment based on ultrasound and cell-free DNA vs combined screening: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This was a randomized controlled trial to compare risk assessment by first-trimester combined screening (FTCS) with an approach that combines a detailed ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis. METHODS: Pregnant women with a normal first-trimester ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation (fetal nuchal translucency (NT) ≤ 3.5 mm and no fetal defects) were randomized into one of two groups. In the first group, risk of aneuploidy was assessed using FTCS based on the most recent UK Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm. In the second group, risk assessment was based on ultrasound findings and cfDNA analysis. An additional tube of blood was collected for FTCS in case the cfDNA analysis was uninformative. Primary outcome was false-positive rate in screening for trisomy 21. A case was considered false positive if the karyotype was not trisomy 21 and if the risk for trisomy 21 was >1:100, irrespective of the method of risk calculation. Results were compared using 95% CIs using the Clopper-Pearson method. RESULTS: Between October 2015 and December 2016, 1518 women with singleton pregnancy underwent first-trimester screening. Thirty-one (2.0%) pregnancies were not eligible for randomization due to increased NT (> 3.5 mm) and/or fetal defect. After exclusion of women who declined randomization (n = 87) and cases of fetal death and loss to follow-up (n = 24), 688 pregnancies were randomized into the FTCS arm and 688 into the ultrasound + cfDNA analysis arm. There were no differences in maternal and gestational age, maternal weight and BMI, ethnicity, use of assisted reproduction and cigarette smoking between the two arms. In the ultrasound + cfDNA analysis arm, median risk for trisomy 21 was 1 in 10 000. None of the cases had a risk above 1: 100 (95% CI, 0.0-0.5%). In the FTCS arm, the median risk for trisomy 21 was 1 in 3787 and in 17 cases, the risk was higher than 1:100, which corresponds to 2.5% (95% CI, 1.5-3.9%) of the FTCS study-arm population. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that first-trimester risk assessment for trisomy 21 that includes a detailed ultrasound examination as well as NT measurement and is followed by cfDNA testing is associated with a significant reduction in the false-positive rate compared with FTCS. This approach obviates the need for maternal serum free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in screening for fetal aneuploidy. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Diverging detection limits of immunochemical tests for occult blood underline the necessity of standardization and quality assurance]. / Unterschiedliche Nachweisgrenzen immunologischer Tests auf Blut im Stuhl unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit der Standardisierung und Qualitätssicherung.

BACKGROUND: Immunological fecal occult blood tests (FIT) are superior in detecting colorectal cancer and its precursors compared to conventional Guajac-based tests. Besides quantitative, laboratory-based FITs qualitative, office-based FITs are increasingly employed. Studies have shown major variation of these tests with respect to sensitivity and specificity, which is most probably caused by different detection limits. In the present study we therefore determined and compared the detection limits and other criteria of commercial FITs. METHODS: We determined the detection limits for 21 qualitative and one quantitative FIT using commercial control solutions with defined hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. These detection limits were compared with the manufacturers' data. RESULTS: The detection limits of the tests showed a wide range of 2 to over 60 µg Hb per gram stool. In many cases the detection limits we determined were not in accordance with the manufacturers' data. Two tests didn't show a positive reaction even with the highest hemoglobin concentration of 440 ng/mL. On the other hand one test showed a positive reaction even at the lowest hemoglobin concentration of 25 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: The large differences in the detection limits found in this study are consistent with observations of large variation of sensitivity and specificity of qualitative FITs in screening practice. Proper clinical validation of each FIT is to be required before admission for colorectal cancer screening. An additional regular quality control, i. e. by means of external quality control measures and documentation of results of colonoscopies following positive tests results, should be mandatory.

Comparison of three first trimester screening algorithms for trisomy 21 with and without adjustment for maternal characteristics.

PURPOSE: Comparison of three algorithms (DoE 2007 and DoE 2011 algorithm of the FMF Germany and MoM algorithm of the FMF UK) in first trimester biochemical screening for trisomy 21 based on maternal and gestational age, free ß-hCG, and PAPP-A and assessment of relevant maternal characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 22 449 euploid singleton pregnancies undergoing combined screening for trisomy 21 at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation were examined. The measured maternal free ß-hCG and PAPP-A concentrations were converted into DoE 2007 and DoE 2011 values according to the algorithm of the FMF Germany and into MoM values according to the algorithm of the FMF UK. In each pregnancy, patient-specific risks and false-positive rates (FPR) were computed according to the three algorithms and were stratified according to gestational age, maternal ethnicity, maternal weight, and smoking status. RESULTS: Free ß-hCG and PAPP-A MoM and DoE 2011 were acceptably independent from maternal characteristics and gestational age, while there was a strong relationship between maternal weight and the DoE 2007 values. For a risk cut-off that corresponds to an overall 5 % FPR rate for each algorithm, the FPR in each group were around 5 % at gestational week 11 - 13. The FPR of the DoE 2007 algorithm increased linearly with maternal weight from 3.6 % in women of 50 kg or less to 11.8 % in women of more than 110 kg. CONCLUSION: Especially maternal weight has a significant impact on the risk calculation. In contrast to the DoE 2007 algorithm, the DoE 2011 and MoM algorithms both adjust for maternal weight.

First-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 with different combinations of placental growth factor, free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A.

OBJECTIVE: To examine placental growth factor (PlGF) in euploid and trisomy 21 pregnancies at 11-13 weeks' gestation and to model the impact on first-trimester combined screening. METHODS: PlGF was measured in 509 (409 euploid and 100 trisomic) fetal serum samples derived from prospective first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 at 11-13 weeks' gestation. The serum samples were stored at -80°C, following the measurement of free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels, for median time spans of 0.9 and 4.1 years in the euploid and trisomy 21 pregnancies, respectively. The effect of additional PlGF measurement at the time of combined screening was investigated by simulating fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurements and multiples of the median (MoM) values for PAPP-A, free ß-hCG and PlGF for 20,000 euploid and 20,000 trisomy 21 pregnancies. Patient-specific combined risks were calculated based on maternal age and fetal NT in addition to free ß-hCG, PAPP-A and PlGF, PAPP-A and PlGF or free ß-hCG and PlGF, and detection and false-positive rates were calculated. RESULTS: Median PlGF-MoM was 1.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-1.04) in euploid fetuses and significantly lower, at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.70-0.76), in trisomy-21 fetuses (P < 0.0001). There was no significant dependency between PlGF-MoM and either gestational age at the time of blood sampling (r = 0.087, P = 0.392) or sample storage time (r = 0.028, P = 0.785). Modeled detection and false-positive rates for first-trimester combined screening (based on maternal and gestational age, fetal NT and maternal serum biochemistry) without PlGF were 85% and 2.7% for a fixed risk cut-off of 1:100. The addition of PlGF increased the detection rate to 87% and reduced the false-positive rate to 2.6%. Screening by maternal age and fetal NT in combination with PlGF and PAPP-A or in combination with PlGF and free ß-hCG provided detection rates of 82% and 79%, with false-positive rates of 2.7% and 3.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In pregnancies with trisomy 21 PlGF is reduced. The impact on the overall screening performance for trisomy 21 is low and does not justify the measurement of PlGF solely for trisomy 21 screening. However, as PlGF is measured with the aim of assessing the risk for pre-eclampsia, further improvement in screening for trisomy 21 can be considered as an added benefit.

[First-trimester screening for trisomies 18 and 13 with the combined use of the risk algorithms for trisomy 21, 18 and 13]. / Screening auf Trisomie 18 und Trisomie 13 durch das kombinierte Anwenden der Risiko-Algorithmen für Trisomie 21, 18 und 13.

PURPOSE: Assessment of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 18 and 13 with the combined use of the risk algorithms for trisomy 21, 18 and 13. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-trimester combined screening based on maternal and gestational age, fetal NT, PAPP-A and free ß-hCG was assessed in 39 ,004 pregnancies. Patient-specific risks for trisomy 21, 18, 13 were computed based on the current FMF London algorithm. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 38 ,751 singleton pregnancies including 39 cases with trisomy 18 or 13. In the aneuploid group, median delta NT was 0.72 mm, PAPP-A was 0.21 MoM and free ß-hCG was 0.33 MoM. Although only 41 % of the NT measurements of fetuses with trisomy 18 or 13 were above the 95th percentile, the detection rates for trisomy 18 or 13 were 82 % with the trisomy 18/13 algorithm and 56.4 % with the trisomy 21 algorithm. The respective false-positive rates were 0.7 % and 4.7 %. The combination of the trisomy 18/13 and the trisomy 21 algorithm with the same cut-offs led to a detection rate of 94.9 % at an overall false-positive rate of 5.0 %. CONCLUSION: Despite a substantial underestimation of the fetal NT, the combined use of the trisomy 18/13 and the trisomy 21 algorithm of the FMF London leads to a detection rate for trisomy 18/13 of about 95 % for a false-positive rate of 5.0 %.

[Cross-validation of the first trimester screening algorithm of the FMF London on 38,700 pregnancies in Germany]. / Cross-Validierung des Screening-Algorithmus der FMF London an 38,700 Ersttrimester-Untersuchungen in Deutschland.

PURPOSE: Validation of the performance of the new algorithm of the FMF London for screening for trisomy 21 using a combination of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal serum free ß-hCG and PAPP-A. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2002 and 2007, NT was measured prospectively in 39,004 pregnancies in the context of routinely performed first trimester screening in Germany. Individual trisomy 21 risks were calculated by a combination of NT, maternal age, free ß-hCG, and PAPP-A using the FMF algorithm in force at the time of investigation. In this study we recalculated the trisomy 21 risks applying the new algorithm of the FMF UK that includes the new mixture model for the NT measurement. RESULTS: 38,751 singleton pregnancies could be included in the study of which 109 (0.3 %) had a trisomy 21. Only 35 % of the NT measurements of euploids were above the median and 25 % of the NT measurements were below the 5th percentile of the FMF UK. For sonographers that were qualified according to level II or III of the German DEGUM system, the median NT of fetuses with trisomy 21 was 0.9 mm above the median of the FMF UK and only 0.5 mm above the median for all other sonographers. Despite the limited performance of the NT measurement, the overall detection rate for a trisomy 21 was 90.8 % when combining the NT with maternal age, PAPP-A and free ß-hCG. The overall false-positive rate for a trisomy 21 was 6.5 % at a cut-off value of 1:300. CONCLUSION: In this study we were able to show that the use of the new risk algorithm of the FMF UK leads to a trisomy 21 detection rate of about 90 % at a 5 % false-positive rate in a German collective despite a significant underestimation of the NT.

Impact of the maternal age-related risk in first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of the maternal age-related risk in first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21. METHODS: Prospective assessment of risk for trisomy 21 by a combination of maternal age, fetal NT thickness and maternal serum PAPP-A and free ß-hCG at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation between April 2002 and February 2007. Screening for trisomy 21 by patient-specific risks based on the maternal and gestational age-related risk multiplied by a likelihood ratio for NT and for maternal serum biochemistry were compared with a screening policy that is only based on the combined likelihood ratio for fetal NT and maternal serum biochemistry. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 38,603 euploid pregnancies and 109 fetuses with trisomy 21. In screening for trisomy 21 by fetal NT and maternal serum biochemistry in combination with and without maternal age with a fixed false-positive rate of 3%, the detection rate was 82.6 and 79.8%, respectively. In the group of women with a maternal age of less than 30 years and between 30 and 35 years, there was no difference in the detection rate. For women with a maternal age of 35 years or older, the detection rate increased from 77.1% without maternal age to 94.3% with maternal age, respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall difference between first-trimester screening based on fetal NT and maternal serum biochemistry with and without maternal age is about 3%. In screening with a fixed cut-off, the maternal age-related risk keeps the false-positive rate low in younger women and increases the detection rate in older women.

Comparison of the new PRC software with the established algorithm of the FMF UK for the detection of trisomy 21 and 18/13.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the newly developed Prenatal Risk Calculation (PRC) software and the established Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) UK algorithm for their detection and false-positive rates in prenatal screening of trisomy 21 or 18/13. METHODS: Nuchal translucency was measured by FMF-certified sonographers in 39,004 pregnancies. Risks for trisomy 21 and 18/13 were calculated together with serum PAPPA and free beta-hCG in all cases. Overall, 109 cases of trisomy 21 and 39 cases of trisomy 18 or 13 occurred. The detection rates were calculated for all 109 trisomy 21 cases using both PRC and ASTRAIA, software based on the official algorithm of the FMF UK. The false-positive rate was calculated on the basis of all 39,004 cases for ASTRAIA and on the basis of 3,620 additional cases for PRC. The comparison of the algorithms was performed by the calculation of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The detection rates for trisomy 21 for a 5% false-positive rate were 91% (99/109) for PRC and 90% (98/109) for ASTRAIA. The difference was not significant. ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.976 for PRC and 0.975 for ASTRAIA (p = 0.80). At a cutoff of 1:300, PRC showed a slightly (nonsignificantly) higher, but nonsignificant false-positive rate (3.8% for ASTRAIA, version since 2005, 5.1% for PRC) associated with a slightly (nonsignificantly) higher, but nonsignificant detection rate of 91% (PRC) versus 88% (ASTRAIA). The false-positive rate of the biochemical risk (without NT) in PRC was significantly higher (17.7%) than with the FMF UK algorithm (9.0%) at a common risk cutoff of 1:300. A reason for the higher false-positive rates in PRC may be the missing correction for maternal weight, smoking status, and ethnicity. The detection rates for trisomy 18/13 at a risk cutoff of 1:150 were 79% for PRC and 77% for ASTRAIA. False-positive rates for trisomy 18/13 at a cutoff of 1:150 were 1.5% for PRC and 0.6% for ASTRAIA (differences were nonsignificant). CONCLUSION: For a 5% false-positive rate, the new PRC software detects as many trisomy 21 and trisomy 18/13 cases as the established algorithms of the FMF UK. In order to reduce the false-positive rate for the biochemical risk, the algorithm of the PRC software should be redesigned to include the maternal weight, smoking status of the mother, and the ethnicity.

The effect of peat components on endocrine and immunological parameters and on trace elements--results of two pilot studies.

Peat and different peat preparations are successfully used in clinical therapies for different indications (as, for instance, in the field of gynecology). New studies show the biochemical effects of peat components which they have aside from their physical-thermal effects. This is of extraordinary interest with regard to the medical use of peat, because considerable concentrations of trace elements and heavy metals have been found in different kinds of peat. By means of atomic spectrometry it was investigated in 17 female patients with irritable bladder whether and how variations of the concentration of special trace elements and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper, manganese) could be measured within 24-hour urine after vaginal peat-mush treatments had been applied serially. Additionally, the effect of peat-mush baths compared to the effect of water baths (n=6) - both of which were applied to 17 female patients with degenerative diseases - was examined with regard to their special endocrinological parameters. The results concerning safety did not show any changes of the concentration of the trace-elements or heavy metals within the 24-hour urine. These results can be explained by the chelating features of the peat components, which are the reason for the absorption of the trace elements. Examinations done to compare the effects of peat-mush baths and water baths have shown that peat components - independent from their thermal effects - are the reason for the occurrence of special effects. This applies in particular to the parameter soluble interleukin-2-receptor. As regards estradiol, a significant increase could be measured after peat-mush baths had been applied to 17 postmenopausal female patients (n=11). Comparing these results with those of the group of patients treated with water baths, we noticed that the increase of estradiol was remarkably lower and not significant. The effect of the peat components is thought to be the reason for this.

Detection of colorectal neoplasms by the highly sensitive hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex in feces.

Screening for fecal occult blood by means of guaiac tests has an unsatisfactory sensitivity for the detection of colorectal neoplasms. The immunological determination of human hemoglobin in feces has a higher sensitivity and specificity, but hemoglobin is degraded during its transport through the gastrointestinal tract. We compared the hemoglobin test to a newly developed immuno-chemiluminometric (ILMA) assay for quantifying the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex in feces which shows high stability against degradation. From each of 621 patients with gastrointestinal complaints before scheduled colonoscopy we collected two 1-ml samples from a single stool; there were no dietary restrictions. The sensitivity for detecting colorectal carcinomas proved 87% with hemoglobin. With the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex it was 87% at a cutoff level of 1.5 microg/g feces, 83% at 2.0 microg/g feces, and 78% at 2.5 and 3.0 microg/g feces. The sensitivity for detecting large adenomatous polyps was 54% with hemoglobin, 76% with the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex at a cutoff point of 1.5 microg/g feces, 73% with the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex at 2.0 and 2.5 microg/g feces, and 65% with the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex at 3.0 microg/g feces. The optimal cutoff point for the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex was estimated to be 2.0 microg/g stool. The specificity for hemoglobin (99%) was significantly higher than that for the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex at 2.0 microg/g feces (96%). Immunological determination of the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex in feces has a comparable sensitivity as the fecal hemoglobin assay for colorectal carcinomas and a significantly higher sensitivity for adenomatous polyps but a significantly lower specificity. Its use for colorectal cancer prevention is currently being evaluated in a screening study.

Screening for colorectal neoplasms with a new immunological human faecal haemoglobin and albumin test.

In Germany, screening for colorectal cancer shows low efficiency, which is partly due to demographic changes with a rising mean age of the population, a low participation rate and an unsatisfactory sensitivity of guaiac tests for detecting faecal occult-blood. Therefore, a pilot screening study with a new immunological faecal haemoglobin and albumin test was performed in Ostringen, Germany to assess its compliance, performance characteristics and cost-effectiveness. Two thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five persons (1,498 women and 1,287 men) collected 1 ml samples from two different sites of one stool. The upper limit of normal was 10 micrograms/g stool for haemoglobin and 100 micrograms/g stool for albumin. The compliance was 82%; 224 persons (8%) had a positive test result. Of these, 184 underwent full colonoscopy. We detected 14 colorectal cancers, 10 of which were Dukes' stage A carcinomas removed by endoscopic polypectomy, 34 large adenomas and 43 small adenomas. The detection rate for colorectal neoplasms was above the rate described for other immunological haemoglobin tests and for Haemoccult tests. The specificity of the test--defined with false-positive results if a normal colon mucosa and no other reasons for upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding were found--was 99.5%. The cost-effectiveness was assessed by comparing the diagnostic costs with the savings resulting from prevention of colorectal carcinomas by endoscopic polypectomy of malignant polyps (Dukes' stage A). The savings in our screening study exceeded the diagnostic costs by approximately 2.3 times. The combined immunological faecal haemoglobin and albumin test should substitute the Haemoccult test in colorectal cancer screening because of its higher sensitivity and specificity combined with cost-effectiveness and good patient compliance.

Validity of new immunological human fecal hemoglobin and albumin tests in detecting colorectal neoplasms--an endoscopy-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Screening for occult blood by means of guaiac tests has an unsatisfactory sensitivity for the detection of colorectal neoplasms. To increase sensitivity and specificity the immunological determination of human hemoglobin and albumin in feces has been developed. The validity of analyzing only two samples from one bowel movement of either test is not known. METHODS: An immunological determination of human fecal hemoglobin and albumin using luminescence immunoassays (LIA) was performed in 739 patients with gastrointestinal complaints before scheduled colonoscopy. Each patient collected two 1 ml samples from one stool. There were no dietary restrictions. RESULTS: The sensitivity for detecting colorectal carcinomas was 95.3% (95% confidence interval 84.2-99.4%) with hemoglobin and 67.4% (95% confidence interval 51.2-80.9%) with albumin. The sensitivity for detecting large adenomatous polyps was 62.9% (95% confidence interval 50.5-74.1%) with hemoglobin and 32.9% (95% confidence interval 22.1-45.1%) with albumin. The specificity was 97% for hemoglobin, 96% for albumin and 94% for the combined test. CONCLUSIONS: The immunological determination of fecal hemoglobin is superior to albumin and has a better sensitivity for the detection of colorectal neoplasms than that reported for guaiac tests, even if two samples from one bowel movement are examined. The immunological determination of fecal hemoglobin should therefore be evaluated for use in colorectal cancer screening.

Cathepsin B and cysteine proteinase inhibitors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of lung cancer patients.

The enzymatic activity and the concentration of cathepsin B (CB), determined by ELISA, and total inhibitory activity of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPIs) were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of lung tumor patients (n = 49). Significantly higher CB activity and concentration was found in BALF from metastasis (n = 15), when compared to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; n = 15) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC; n = 7). Patients with adenocarcinoma (n = 12) also secreted considerably more CB, about 14- and 3.3-fold, compared to SCC and SCLC patients, respectively. However, only tumor patients without inflammation were considered because the comparison of patients with lung tumors (n = 49) and with other non-neoplastic lung diseases (n = 18) showed no differences due to high CB in BALF of patients with inflammatory conditions, present in some patients from both groups. Immunolabeling of tumor BALF proteins revealed CB immunoreactivity at molecular sizes that corresponded to the size of its precursor and mature forms, as well as to complexes with kininogen(s) and low molecular weight CPIs. Stefins A and B, but not cystatins C and S appeared in the complexes with CB.