Document Detail


Significance of elevated mid-trimester maternal plasma-alpha-fetoprotein values.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  87736     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In a prospective trial of 15,481 pregnancies, 667 women (4.3%) had two sequential mid-trimester plasma-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) values above 2 times the median. The outcome of these pregnancies was open neural-tube defect (12.4%), birthweight less than 2.5 kg (10.3%), twins (9.8%), fetal wastage (9.5%), perinatal death (2.6%), other (1.3%), and "normal" singleton (54.1%). At higher A.F.P. cutoffs the proportion of "normal" singleton pregnancies declined rapidly, being 19% at 3 times the median and 9% at 4 times the median. If it is assumed that ultrasonography and amniotic-fluid A.F.P. assay can detect twins and most cases of neural-tube defect, the outcome of the residual pregnancies is still strongly influenced by plasma-A.F.P. level. Thus at a cut-off of 4 times the median two-thirds of the pregnancies in this residual group will end in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal death. It is suggested that counselling of women taking part in A.F.P. screening programmes should be strongly influenced by maternal plasma-A.F.P. levels, even if ultrasonographic findings and amniotic-fluid levels are normal.
Authors:
D J Brock; L Barron; P Duncan; J B Scrimgeour; M Watt
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Lancet     Volume:  1     ISSN:  0140-6736     ISO Abbreviation:  Lancet     Publication Date:  1979 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1979-08-29     Completed Date:  1979-08-29     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985213R     Medline TA:  Lancet     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1281-2     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Birth Weight
Congenital Abnormalities / diagnosis
Female
Fetal Death / diagnosis
Hernia, Umbilical / diagnosis
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pregnancy, Multiple
Prenatal Diagnosis*
alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/alpha-Fetoproteins

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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