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Amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein testing in native Japanese women
Author(s) -
Onda Takekazu,
Fukushima Kazuo,
Tanaka Tadao,
Sawa Rintaro,
Hayashi Zuisei,
Tsutsumi Osamu,
Takai Yasushi,
Yoshida Koyo,
Nakamura Yasushi,
Hoshi Kazuhiko,
Fukada Yukihito,
Okai Takashi,
Sakai Masato,
Kitagawa Michihiro,
Akiyama Yoshiaki,
Shimomura Katsunori,
Myrick Faye,
Dowman A. Christine,
Grier Robert E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0223(199908)19:8<761::aid-pd623>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , medicine , obstetrics , gestation , pregnancy , population , alpha fetoprotein , prenatal diagnosis , significant difference , black women , gynecology , fetus , biology , environmental health , gender studies , genetics , sociology , hepatocellular carcinoma
Owing to differences in maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin and oestriol levels between native Japanese and Caucasian women screened in this labortory, a study was conducted to measure amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein (AFAFP) levels in native Japanese pregnancies. When the native Japanese AFAFP levels were compared with a United States (non‐Black) population, the Japanese medians did not decrease as rapidly over the 14 to 22 weeks of gestation period investigated. At 14 weeks, the difference was negligible, graduating to a difference of 20 per cent by 22 weeks' gestation. Native Japanese pregnancy AFAFP levels should be interpreted based upon population data from that group alone. From these findings, prenatal screening laboratories should be encouraged to collect preliminary data for comparison before screening is initiated for a defined ethnic group. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.