Question

Lucy is 16 weeks pregnant and undergoes maternal serum screening to measure her maternal alpha fetoprotein levels (AFP). Her AFP level is several times higher that normal levels. For which of the following disorders should Lucy be offered additional testing?

a. Trisomy 21, a chromosome abnormality
b. Sickle-cell disease, an autosomal recessive disorder
c. Spina bifida, a neural tube defect
d. Hemophila A, a sex-linked recessive disorder
e. Lucy does not need additional testing for any disorder.

Answer 1

a. Trisomy 21, a chromosome abnormality. Lucy should be offered additional testing for Trisomy 21, a chromosome abnormality.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lucy should be offered additional testing for Trisomy 21, a chromosome abnormality. Maternal serum screening is used to measure levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), which is a protein produced by the fetus. In the case of Lucy, her AFP level is several times higher than normal, indicating a potential risk for Trisomy 21. Additional testing such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling can be conducted to confirm the diagnosis. Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, is more common in pregnancies of older women.