A Prospective study to evaluate the demographic variation of gender independent sequences in cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) concentration and to predict pregnancy outcomes by non-kit based economical method

Abstract

This gender-independent detection of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma using RASSF1A/β-actin has curtained off a new dimension regarding its utility to predict the adverse pregnancy outcomes. Recent efforts have been directed at developing sequences from cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) as markers for pregnancy outcomes. The utility of cffDNA using the methylation-dependent DSCR3 and RASSF1A markers along with total cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) in maternal serum by HYP2 marker are useful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. Increased amount (>95th percentile) of cffDNA fraction in the second trimester is associated with preterm birth. Indigenously developed low-cost method of the gender-independent sequence markers from cffDNA was investigated and evaluated with the standardized commercial kits as predictive markers for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our results indicated that indigenously developed method for detection of geneder-independent cffDNA can be applicable for screening test of adverse pregnancy outcome.