"Biomarkers of immune hyperactivation and inflammation are elevated in pregnancies complicated by fetal Trisomy-21".

OBJECTIVE

To compare interferon-linked/inflammatory biomarkers (neopterin, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase [IDO], and YKL-40) in maternal serum and amniotic fluid between Trisomy-21 and chromosomally normal pregnancies.

METHODS

This prospective case-control study included pregnancies diagnosed with Trisomy-21 and chromosomally normal pregnancies as controls. Neopterin, IDO, and YKL-40 levels in maternal serum and amniotic fluid samples were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS

Neopterin and YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in amniotic fluid (p < 0.05) and maternal serum (p < 0.05), respectively, in the Trisomy-21 group. Maternal serum IDO showed a trend toward increase in Trisomy-21 pregnancies, while amniotic fluid levels did not differ between groups. All measurements were above assay detection limits.

CONCLUSION

Trisomy-21 pregnancies showed elevated AF neopterin and elevated MS YKL-40, while IDO was not significantly different. This pattern is compatible with differences in interferon-linked inflammatory/vascular pathways in Trisomy-21 preg-nancies, but does not establish a mechanism. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.