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MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA‐FETOPROTEIN AND PREVIOUS NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS
Author(s) -
Wald N.,
Barker Sheila,
Peto R.,
Brock D. J. H.,
Bonnar J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00811.x
Subject(s) - anencephaly , spina bifida , amniocentesis , neural tube , medicine , obstetrics , abnormality , alpha fetoprotein , ultrasonography , gynecology , amniotic fluid , pregnancy , prenatal diagnosis , fetus , pediatrics , surgery , embryo , biology , psychiatry , genetics , hepatocellular carcinoma , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary A case‐control study involving 63 pregnancies showed that women who had previously had an infant with anencephaly or spina bifida did not have raised serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels in subsequent unaffected pregnancies. The value of a serum AFP determination in such women is discussed. If the serum AFP level is normal and if ultrasonography excludes anencephaly the risk of spina bifida might be low enough (about 1 per cent) to make diagnostic amniocentesis difficult to justify. Conversely, a high serum AFP value in such women should not be acted on without confirmation of an abnormality by ultrasonography and, if that is negative, by diagnostic amniocentesis.