Abstract
Objective To test the hypothesis that high fetal fraction (FF) on first trimester cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) aneuploidy screening is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
Study Design This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study of women who underwent cfDNA screening at <14 weeks' gestation and delivered a singleton infant between July 2016 and June 2018. Women with abnormal results were excluded. Women with high FF (≥95th percentile) were compared with women with normal FF (5th–95th percentiles). Outcomes investigated were preterm birth, small for gestational age, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Results A total of 2,033 women met inclusion criteria. The mean FF was 10.0%, and FF >16.5% was considered high (n = 102). Women with high FF had a greater chance of delivering a small for gestational age infant <fifth percentile, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.8, p = 0.039). There was no significant association between high FF and either preterm birth or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Conclusion Women with a high FF in the first trimester are at increased risk of delivering a small for gestational age infant <fifth percentile. Further investigation into the clinical implications of a high FF is warranted.
Keywords
aneuploidy screening - cell-free DNA - fetal fraction - adverse pregnancy outcomes - fetal growth restriction
