AUTHOR=Cao Jun , Qiao Longwei , Jin Jieyu , Zhang Sheng , Chen Ping , Tang Haoyu , Yu Zheng , Shi Jingye , Wang Ting , Liang Yuting 

TITLE=Lipid Metabolism Affects Fetal Fraction and Screen Failures in Non-invasive Prenatal Testing

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.811385

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.811385

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> To assess the association between lipid metabolism and fetal fraction, which is a critical factor in ensuring a highly accurate non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and on the rate of screen failures or “no calls” in NIPT.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of 4,514 pregnant women at 12–26 weeks of gestation underwent NIPT sequencing and serum lipid measurements. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the associations of serum lipid concentrations with the fetal fraction and the rate of screen failures.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The fetal fraction decreased with increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels, which were significant factors (standardized coefficient: −0.11). Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the interval between the two tests were positively correlated with the fetal fraction. The median fetal fraction was 10.88% (interquartile range, 8.28–13.89%) and this decreased with TG from 11.56% at ≤1.10 mmol/L to 9.51% at &gt;2.30 mmol/L. Meanwhile, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased TG levels were independently associated with the risk of screen failures. The rate of screen failures showed an increase with TG levels from 1.20% at ≤1.70 mmol/L to 2.41% at &gt;2.30 mmol/L.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> The fetal fraction and the rate of screen failures in NIPT are affected by TG levels. Meanwhile, in pregnant women with high TG levels, delaying the time between NIPT blood collections can significantly increase the fetal fraction.</p>