Activity of adenosine deaminase in mothers who have conceived a fetus with central nervous system malformations

Engin-Üstün Y., Üstün Y., Sezgin B., Karabulut A., Kiran T. R., Kafkasli A.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine, vol.35, no.5, pp.399-402, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Abstract
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1515/jpm.2007.069
  • Journal Name: Journal of Perinatal Medicine
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.399-402
  • Keywords: Adenosine deaminase, CNS malformations
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Objective: To establish the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in women who had been pregnant with a child suffering from central nervous system (CNS) anomaly. Methods: The study group comprised 68 women who had been pregnant with an affected child, and 68 controls matched for age, gestational age and body mass index. Maternal venous blood was collected for measurement of ADA levels. We defined the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver-operating characteristic curve for ADA. Results: Plasma ADA activity was significantly higher in the study group (12.3 U/L, range 1.7-33.3) compared to the median value of 3.3 U/L (range 1.1-34.4) in normal pregnancies (P<0.05). The cut-off point of ADA >5.9U/L was associated with the highest combination of specificity (58.8%) and sensitivity (86.8%). Conclusion: ADA activity in women who have conceived a fetus with CNS malformations was significantly higher than that in normal pregnant women. ©2007 by Walter de Gruyter.