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A COMPARISON OF MATERNAL SERUM LEVELS OF ALPHA‐FETOPROTEIN IN NORMAL AND PRE‐ECLAMPTIC PREGNANCIES
Author(s) -
Khoo S. K.,
Chang A.,
Mackay E. V.
Publication year - 1978
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.1471-0528.1978.tb15853.x
Subject(s) - radioimmunoassay , eclampsia , medicine , pregnancy , obstetrics , alpha (finance) , gestational age , alpha fetoprotein , gestation , fetus , endocrinology , biology , surgery , construct validity , hepatocellular carcinoma , patient satisfaction , genetics
Summary Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in Serum from women with normal and pre‐eclamptic pregnancies. An analysis of the results obtained in normal pregnancy was made using arithmetic and semi‐logarithmic scales, and a statistical conversion of the AFP values in relation to gestational age was introduced to allow an easier interpretation of results. In pre‐eclampsia, significantly lower mean AFP values were obtained, with the majority of individual values being lower than the mean for normal pregnancy. These low levels were not associated with fetal death, but appeared to be related to the severity of disease. The significance of these findings remains to be evaluated.