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Low Papp-A Levels - anyone have experience of this?

3 replies

SukieQ · 07/11/2011 19:33

Had my 12 week scan today, and as I had a MMC at 12+2 in April I was a bit in shock and relieved that the baby was alive and I was still pregnant, so I didn't take everything in when I got the scan report.

With the Downs and Trisomy 13/18 screening I had good results and low adjusted risk for both (around 1:14000). Nasal bone present, NT 1.44mm.

But my bloods showed low Papp-A at 0.2913 MoM so they'll rescan in third trimester for growth they said. I took that at face value and didn't know what Papp-A was, but looked it up and realise the possible risk with still birth, premature labour, and IUGR. I figure they couldn't have calculated the Papp-A in my Downs risk as it was still so low. I'm going to call them tomorrow but it's sometimes hard to get through. Asking a couple friends who are doctors too.

My hCG was 0.5403 MoM so I don't know if this is low or high.

Does anyone have any experience of Papp-A and what is the course of action you took? Did you rescan privately? Or have 3rd tri scans? And did you have any problems in 3rd tri?

TIA.

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Everlong · 07/11/2011 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cherrycobbler · 07/11/2011 21:38

Hi Sukie. I had low-Papp A too - I think a bit higher than yours but can't remember the exact figure. I was similarly freaked out when I googled it, but the consultant we saw couldn't have been more reassuring. It just meant that I had a couple of extra growth scans in the third trimester to check baby was growing fine and for me they induced me on my EDD rather than letting me go to 42 weeks. I was happy to be induced but they did say that if I wanted they would have let me wait a week or so as long as I went in for daily monitoring. I ended up having a really positive birth and DD is now a demanding bonny six month old. The other thing it meant was that they told me DD would be on the small side, about 5lb, as low Papp-A usually means small babies, and I kept focussing on that when pushing. Turns out she was 8lb, so don't believe everything they say.

Having said all that, it was ages before we could see the consultant to explain that the low reading was nothing serious so we had the nuchal test redone privately at the FMC the day after we got the results. In retrospect we didn't need to private reassurance but I was going mad with worry and they were so lovely at the FMC, so I'm glad we did it.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

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SukieQ · 07/11/2011 22:17

thanks for the responses. should have mentioned, i'm 31 and have a nearly 2 year old who was a smooth pregnancy and natural delivery.

a friend whose a doc got back to me and the bottom line seems to be there is a very real link with IUGR, pre-eclampsia, still birth, and premies and many terrifying outcomes, but that the indicative value of low Papp-A on this is also fairly low. Going to try to go with the flow, get to the 20 wk and the 3rd tri scans and cross any bridges when we come to them. easier said than done.

welcome anyone else's experiences of this too.