November 14th, 2014, Beirut, Lebanon:To highlight and raise awareness around the importance of first trimester screening during pregnancy and its benefits for mothers-to-be across Lebanon, medical specialists addressed media professionals in an interactive educational session. The event, titled MEDia Talks, was held at the Habtoor Hilton, Beirut andhosted by Roche Diagnostics Middle East. It was attended by journalists and key opinion leaders, including Dr. Bernard Nasr, Fetomaternal Specialist at Clemenceau Medical Center, Notre Dame University Hospital, and Haykal Hospital, Lebanon.
The first trimester screening is a non-invasive evaluation that includes a maternal blood screening test in combination with an ultrasound evaluation.This screening can identify the risk for specific chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Another portion of the test – nuchal translucency which is the fluid beneath the skin behind the baby’s neck -can also assist in identifying other significant fetal abnormalities, such as cardiac disorders.
The screening is performed in the first trimester, usuallybetween the 11th and 13th week of pregnancy. The blood screen measures two pregnancy related hormones: free beta hCG and PAPP-A. The ultrasound evaluation measures nuchal translucency.In babies who are at an increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities,abnormally high or low hCG and PAPP-A levels are often found and there is often increased fluid in the nuchal translucency.
Based on the results, along with other risk factors, such as maternal age, the parents can consider if diagnostic testing or an amniocentesis (second trimester) are necessary. Further testing can confirm a diagnosis which allows parents the opportunity to make a decision about carrying the child to term, identify support groups and resources, plan for a child with special needs, and/or address anticipated lifestyle changes.
First trimester screening is particularly important in the region as according to the Catalogue for Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA) Databasethe incidence of Down syndrome is higher than international figures. Also, there are serious complications associated with Down syndrome which are prevalentin the region. Some of these complications, listed from studies from Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and Lebanon, include acute leukemia and impairment of increased susceptibility to infections and congenital heart disease.1