Open AccessMATERNAL AND FETAL ALPHAFETOPROTEIN (AFP) LEVELS AT TERM
Author(s) -
Obiekwe B. C.,
Malek N.,
Kitau M. J.,
Chard T.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348509155123
Subject(s) - medicine , gestation , fetus , umbilical cord , gestational age , obstetrics , birth weight , pregnancy , vaginal delivery , population , cord , venous blood , cord blood , gynecology , surgery , anatomy , genetics , environmental health , biology
. Serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP) was measured in maternal, cord arterial and venous blood. Samples were collected at the time of vaginal delivery from 105 women at 36–42 weeks' gestation. There was a significant correlation between maternal, cord arterial and venous AFP. Umbilical cord arterial and venous AFP levels were considerably higher in male infants than in females. Umbilical AFP levels declined with lengthening gestation and increasing birth‐weight for both male and female infants and a similar pattern was seen in the mother. Fetal AFP levels were significantly higher in subjects giving birth at 40 weeks whose infants had a birthweight below the population mean vis‐a‐vis those above the mean. It is concluded that the absolute size of the fetus as well as gestational age may play a significant role in determining maternal and fetal AFP concentrations.