Low PAPP-A

[can6342]

Hey,

Has anyone else had low PAPP-A results from the combined screening? Mine came back at 0.10 MoM which is apparently very very low. The NT measurement was normal and DS risk was low (1:3000). I was sent for a 16 week u/s, and baby looked normal but a little small (abdomen and femur length a little small compared to head). I've been referred to a consultant who has mentioned there could be placental issues. I'll have another u/s at 20 and 24 weeks to check fetal growth.

Has anyone else had this issue? Anyone else have a PAPP-A as low as mine yet things still turned out fine? I'm really worried and waiting for the next scan is driving me crazy. Google is not my friend.

Thanks xxx

[DesperateHousewife21]

I've got low Papp a level, mine is 0.28. The mw didn't seem overly concerned as all my other results came back low risk. My risk for ds is 1:350.

I had a scan and Doppler study at my 20 weeks scan to check blood flow to/ from the placenta and it all looked ok.

The consultant has put me on a daily dose of low aspirin as a precaution and I've got to go back at 28, 32 and 36 weeks for growth scans but so far so good.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way and trying not to read scary things on google!

I'm nearly 22 weeks now.

[can6342]

Thanks DesperateHousewife21 for your reply, it's good to hear that your 20 week scan looked fine.
Mine is next week and I really hope the baby's measurements will have caught up by then. I should also be having a Doppler to check placenta blood flow so fingers crossed for that too. It's really difficult trying not to worry, but I've read back through some old threads which has helped.

It just knocked me for six when I got my blood results back stating that they were "unusual":
bHCG = 0.54 MoM
PAPP-A = 0.10MoM
The NT was 1.3mm = 0.90 MoM.

Thanks for your help, and all the best to you xxx

[DesperateHousewife21]

Yes it is hard not to worry, I don't think I'll be happy til she's here safe in my arms!

Good luck with your scan next week, do come back and let me know how you get on. I don't know anyone else with this so it's nice ( in a way) to have someone else.

[benne81]

Hi my pappa was 0.18 - normal ultrasounds and so I was monitored for growth & started on aspirin. Now I have a gorgeous 10 month old DS who is completely healthy. I had no probs in pregnancy and normal delivery at 38weeks.

I remember when I hot those blood test results I was terrified but I just think that level was normal for me. To reassure myself I had further ultrasound at the fetal medical centre inlondon which was also very reassuring.

My friend had low pappa and small baby & has now got a gorgeous 13month old.

The way I thought of it was that it just means I was monitored more closely and that if there was a problem it would be picked up. Try not to worry although I know I is difficult. Feel free to PM me if required.

[DesperateHousewife21]

benne glad everything turned out well for you, it's always nice to hear stories like that!
Alot of people have said their consultant has said they've never heard of anything really bad happening to someone with low Papp a.

I do hope that's true for me!

[can6342]

benne81 Thank you, it is great to hear you have your gorgeous 10 month old, and also to hear about your friend's good outcome

I had my 19 week scan today and I'm really pleased to say everything looked fine. I was really worried bub may have fallen further behind by now but head and abdomen are measuring in the middle of the growth charts, and femur only a little below average... Much better as femur and abdomen were off the bottom of the scale at 16 weeks! And it was lovely to hear the consultant keep saying "normal" as he ran through the anomaly scan checklist.
So, all looks good, and my next growth scan will be at 28 weeks.
You both mentioned aspirin - when I was being scanned, someone behind me asked someone else whether I was taking aspirin (there were two consultants and at least three others in the room so it was hard to follow all the conversations going on). But I'm not taking aspirin, and it wasn't mentioned again.
Anyway, that's my little update and I hope everything is going well for you ladies, and thank you for your help! I will keep an eye on the thread and update as I go.

[DesperateHousewife21]

can great news on the scan! Aspirin is only to thin the blood I think it's more a precaution and it tastes vile so you've had a lucky escape!

I've got a mw app on Mon and then nothing til a growth scan at 28 weeks in August.

[benne81]

Hi the aspirin helps ensure good blood supply and has been shown to reduce growth problems (the theory is low pappa relates to problem from the placenta causing reduced blood supply & poor growth) Might be worth just mentioning it to your midwife as they may have just overlooked it. So glad to hear your scan went well, I lived the second trimester!

[benne81]

Loved

[DesperateHousewife21]

can how did your scan go? Hope all is well with you, baby has been kicking like mad recently so must be a good sign

[can6342]

Hey there, sorry I haven't been on here for a while! Since the scan at 19 weeks where all the measurements were normal, I've relaxed a bit and just been getting on with things!
DesperateHousewife have you had your growth scan yet? How is everything going with you? It's great that the baby has been kicking loads - mine too, and it's very reassuring

[DesperateHousewife21]

Ah that's good

I had my first of three growth scans this morning and everything looks fine.
I'm 27 weeks now and she is measuring just above the 50th centile so all good so far!

Still on daily aspirin which I'll have to take til 36 weeks.

[mummytoh1]

Hi, glad to hear your scans are going well. I also had a low papp-a result, in 2010, and my little boy grew well and was born >75th centile in the end. It's just a possibility, and from what I was told, quite some way from a foregone conclusion that there will be any growth issues at all! x

[DesperateHousewife21]

Glad to hear your ds was a good weight, gives me more hope.

I'm enjoying the extra scans tbh and it's nice im being monitored closely.

[can6342]

Hey, I just wanted to update this thread for anyone who might search for low papp-a stories like I did..
I went into labour on sunday and my gorgeous little boy was born the next day at 36w+6 weighing 4lbs 13oz. He's a little small but absolutely perfect. There were no issues, and we left hospital the next day. He's doing just fine.
So even with a papp-a of 0.10mom it can be all OK.

Can xxx

[DoNotDisturb]

What a lovely update. Huge congrats!

[Pineapple80]

Hi Ladies . I just received my Nuchal blood results and my Papp-a levels are also very low at 0.09mom. I'm very concerned as it has made my overall risk ratio quite high. The beta HCG and scan measurements all reported fine though.

Thanks for sharing your stories as it is reassuring.

[xigris]

Hi ladies
I too had a low PAPP-A of 0.38 which according to some studies on google is "pathological" which of course sent me into a right flap! All the other tests in the combined screen were normal and I was given a 1/80 chance if my baby having a chromosomal abnormality. I was scanned every 4 weeks to keep an eye on the baby's growth and also to check the blood flow through the placenta. I was advised to take 75mg of aspirin daily until 36 weeks. My consultant was absolutely fab and very reassuring. He believes that PAPP-A is a bit of a vague test and not a great indicator of problems. In fact, he told me about a lady the year before who'd had a PAPP-A of 0.0. Yup, ZERO! They tested her about 4 times as they could not possibly believe the result but each time it was the same. She went on to have a completely healthy, 9lb baby at full term. Obviously it was a big worry for us; this was our third pregnancy and the other two had been completely text book in every way so to suddenly have this issue and to be scanned every 4 weeks was very scary. However, on the 2nd of January our son was born at home (we were given the go-ahead for a HB by our consultant - wouldn't have gone against his advice), in 2 hours 28 minutes (ow ow!) weighing 7lb 9oz. He's lovely and completely healthy. Although it's great to have access to 21st century medicine and technology, sometimes I think it can throw up needless concerns. The PAPP-A screen was not around 7 years ago when I had my first baby, for all I know it could have been even lower than with my third! Wishing you all the very best of luck x

[lotsofcheese]

Lovely to hear your update Xigris - congratulations!!!

I'm another one with a low PAPP-A, it's not entirely unexpected given I had PE last time & DS was born prematurely & very small.

I'm having fortnightly growth scans & am on aspirin - 27 weeks & counting! Just crossing my fingers that all stays well this time.

[Pineapple80]

So pleased to hear positive news on here re low PAPP-A! I am now 22 weeks and have discussed this with at my appointments at hospital and they did a detailed growth check at 20 wks scan and also checked uterine artery (?) function and all seems normal. They want to do an additional scan at 32 wks to check growth again.