Cell-free DNA is more sensitive than cell-free mRNA as a marker for evaluation of fetal-maternal hemorrhage

However, eft DNA measurement is a sex-dependent marker used only in pregnancies with male fetuses, whereas cell-free placental (cff) mRNA in maternal plasma, recently quantified with real-time reverse-transcription PCR, is considered a sex-independent marker for monitoring placental conditions (2). To investigate this question, we performed a quantitative analysis of cff DNA and cff mRNA in maternal plasma collected before and 10-min after amniocentesis and evaluated which molecular marker was more sensitive for detection of fetal-maternal hemorrhage.