Fetal medicine

New research methods for mother and her future child in the earliest term of pregnancy.

The happy moment when dreams come true is undoubtedly a huge pleasure for future parents.

Alongside other emotions, there is the entirely reasonable desire that the pregnancy should proceed without complications and that the child is born strong and healthy. This is the desire of everybody - future parents as well as their relatives and friends.

While young mothers-to-be are completely assured that nothing threatens their children, many women more senior women, aged thirty or over, have a lot of doubts about the idea of being pregnant. They fear bearing a child with developmental anomalies or chromosomal deficits. Some women are too self-confident as about 70-80% of Down’s syndrome children are born to mothers who were initially pregnant when 35 years old or younger.

Other women are unaware of the possibilities of modern medicine, specifically prenatal diagnostics. One should naturally be made aware of all the advantages of and conditions for this method.

The main point of the new method is that it is a test undertaken in weeks 11-13 of pregnancy, combining ultrasound measurements and the biochemical analysis of maternal blood in order to calculate individual risk of the development of chromosomal anomalies (congenital defects) in the fetus of the pregnant woman. The ultrasound test is taken alongside a measurement of the cervical collar.

At the same time, two parameters are defined in the mother’s blood: sub-unit chorionic gonadotrophin (*223;-hCG) and a specific antigen (PAPP-A). The procedures, including computer calculation of individual risk (which done by a specialised computer programme), takes no more than 60 minutes. On the basis of the data, the doctor can define whether you need more diagnostic tests in order to find out whether there are chromosomal deficits in the fetus.

Numerous researches have proved the great importance of this method. Application of the classical combined test (measurement of ТВП definition *223;-hCG and PAPP-A) permits diagnosis of 90% of foetuses with Down’s Syndrome and inclusion in this test scheme of bone sampling from the nose of the fetus permits diagnosis in 97% of cases. This is practically equivalent to the effectiveness of the so-called integrated test. Also additional tests of a foetal vein undoubtedly raise diagnostic levels and the value of the "combined test".

Pregnant women choosing such a test should present early (in the first trimester of pregnancy) which allows greater certainty in the diagnosis of problems.

Only the combined test allows fast, early and high accuracy diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies. The effectiveness of the test depends on the accuracy of measurement of the biochemical parameters which is undertaken in analytical systems which undergo regular and strict checking. The unique system which meets the contemporary high accuracy standards is Kryptor (from BRAHMS AG of Germany).

This is a fundamental system for prenatal diagnostics). The combined test has been first used and uniquely is undertaken in Ukraine.

The new method is undertaken after a personal consultation with the gynaecologist (an appointment can be made by telephoning: +38 (044) 537-75-97).

After the tests, you will receive the result which carries a high probability of accuracy (in certain situations up to 97 or 98%). It will inform you if there is any risk of chromosomal deficits and the possibility of developmental anomalies in your future child.