Patient's question:
My wife had a Down syndrome screening at 17+2 weeks. The AFP value was 151.84 U/ml, corrected to 4.6 MoM, and the hCGb value was 12.403 ng/ml, corrected to 0.67 MoM.21-trisomy syndrome: Cut-off value 1:270, Risk value 1:89,000
18-trisomy syndrome: Cut-off value 1:350, Risk value 1:25,000
Neural tube defects: Cut-off value for AFP MoM = 2.5.
How is this result? What further tests should be done next?
Doctor's answer:
Greater than indicates high risk, while less than indicates low risk. The probability of Down syndrome (DS) in the general population (under 37 years old) is 1/750. If the screening result is high risk, amniocentesis is recommended, but even if it is high risk, it does not necessarily mean the child has Down syndrome. However, for safety, it is still recommended to undergo DS screening! Children with Down syndrome have severe intellectual disabilities, cannot live independently, and are often accompanied by complex cardiovascular diseases, requiring long-term care from family members. This can impose a significant mental and financial burden on the family.