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Persistently elevated AFP and AChE in amniotic fluid from a normal fetus following demise of its twin
Author(s) -
Bass Harold N.,
Oliver Joan B.,
Srinivasan Murali,
Petrucha Ruth,
Ng Won,
Lee Jo Ellen S.
Publication year - 1986
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/pd.1970060105
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , fetus , medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , andrology , biology , genetics
Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) in one of twins at 12 weeks of gestation was accompanied by markedly elevated maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) at 17 and 18 weeks. Amniotic fluid AFP from the healthy surviving twin's sac at 18·5 and 23 weeks was also greatly increased along with a positive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) band. Persistently elevated AFP and positive AChE so long after fetal demise–‐6·5 and 11 weeks post IUFD–‐has not, to our knowledge, been previously described. In similar cases, high level ultrasound and careful placental examination at birth should be utilized to search for fetal abnormalities or multiple pregnancy with IUFD.