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. 2022 Aug;42(9):1182-1189.
doi: 10.1002/pd.6202. Epub 2022 Jul 2.

Circulating trophoblast numbers as a potential marker for pregnancy complications

Brielle Crovetti  1 , Mohamad Ali Maktabi  2 , Hadi Erfani  2 , Tachjaree Panchalee  3   4 , Qun Wang  3 , Liesbeth Vossaert  2 , Ignatia Van den Veyver  2   3   5
Affiliations

Circulating trophoblast numbers as a potential marker for pregnancy complications

Brielle Crovetti et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the potential of circulating trophoblasts (TBs) as a non-invasive tool to assess placental health and predict obstetric complications.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of 369 women who enrolled in our original cell-based NIPT (cbNIPT) study. The number of circulating TBs recovered from the maternal blood samples was recorded and expressed as fetal cell concentration (FCC). We evaluated if FCC can be used to predict pregnancy outcomes such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, preterm labor, and pregnancy loss.

Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to find the best cut off value to classify FCC into a low and high FCC group, and this cut-off point was calculated as 11.1 cells per 100 ml of blood. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for the composite morbidity was significantly increased for the high FCC group at an aOR of 1.6.

Conclusion: Circulating TB have the potential of predicting obstetrical complications such as HDP. Future studies, with larger sample sizes, should focus on the study of these cells as a biomarker for placental health and a possible screening or diagnostic tool for fetal genetic conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement

I.B.V. is a member of the scientific advisory board for Baylor Genetics Laboratories.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of the study population
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for fetal cell concentration in predicting composite morbidity
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Fetal cell concentration vs. gestational age at cbNIPT Scatter plot of fetal cell concentration across gestational age. Optimal gestational age for collection of a higher number of fetal cells is demonstrated in the grey box (10–14 weeks). Orange data points represent patients with HELLP syndrome.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of high fetal cell concentration for study outcomes Predictive power of high fetal cell fraction for composite morbidity and its parameters. BMI adjusted odds ratios (with 95% confidence interval) are calculated using logistic regression analysis. *Represents a statistically significant value
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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