The relationship between the first trimester maternal serum PAPP-A and β-hCG values and newborn intensive care needs in low-risk pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to look at the connection between newborn intensive care requirements in low-risk pregnancies and maternal blood pregnancy-associated plasma protein (PAPP-A) and free human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, which are elements of screening tests within the first trimester. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the delivery unit of our hospital, pregnant women between the years of 18 and 35 had singleton pregnancies who delivered between 37 and 41 weeks of pregnancy between July 2021 and January 2022 were split into 2 groups. One hundred eighty two pregnant women with infants who required neonatal intensive care (NICU) were enrolled in the first group, whereas 890 pregnant women with infants who did not require NICU were enrolled in the second. These two groups’ maternal blood PAPP-A and free hCG levels, which are among the first trimester screening procedures, were examined. Additionally, subgroup analysis were performed in terms of cesarean section indications and NICU admission indications. Logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis were performed with related variables for estimating NICU need. RESULTS: The mean serum PAPP-A value was found to be 0.91±0.34 multiples of the median (MoM) in the blood taken from the infant mothers who needed NICU, while the mean serum PAPP-A value in the blood taken from infant mothers who did not need NICU was 1.12±0.59 MoM (p<0.000). The PAPP-A MoM mean of the group with Apgar 5(th) minute score ≥8 (1.09±0.57) was higher than the PAPP-A mean (0.84±0.27) of the Apgar 5(th) minute score <7 group (p=0.013). According to the results of our study, in groups with a PAPP-A value below 0.95, the possibility of increased NICU need of newborns is higher. CONCLUSION: The low serum PAPP-A level, which is used as a screening test among pregnant women, demonstrates that it is successful in predicting perinatal outcomes in the low-risk pregnancy group.