Low maternal serum α-fetoprotein and perinatal outcome Article

Simpson, JL, Baum, LD, Depp, R et al. (1987). Low maternal serum α-fetoprotein and perinatal outcome . 156(4), 852-862. 10.1016/0002-9378(87)90341-3



cited authors

  • Simpson, JL; Baum, LD; Depp, R; Elias, S; Somes, G; Marder, R

fiu authors

abstract

  • Pregnancy outcome was followed prospectively in women showing maternal serum α-fetoprotein values <0.4 multiple of the median. Using a radioimmunoassay later shown by others to produce a disproportionate number of low values, we nonetheless detected all three cases of autosomal trisomy (+ 18, + 18, + 21) at amniocentesis in 1531 women screened. Although two fetal losses and two autosomal trisomies (trisomy 18) occurred among a subgroup of only 15 women having two values <0.25 multiple of the median, fetal losses were in general far less frequent among the 99 women with at least one maternal serum α-fetoprotein value <0.4 multiple of the median than among women in previous reports. Comparing women with maternal serum α-fetoprotein values <0.4 multiple of the median against those with normal values (0.4 to 2.49 multiples of the median) also revealed no significant differences with respect to presence or absence of a variety of antepartum or intrapartum complications. Birth weight, gestational age, arterial cord pH, and Apgar scores also failed to differ significantly (one-way analysis of variance, p > 0.05). Women with a viable pregnancy who show low maternal serum α-fetoprotein values have a more favorable prognosis than previously claimed. © 1987.

publication date

  • January 1, 1987

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 852

end page

  • 862

volume

  • 156

issue

  • 4