Open AccessMaternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein screening for neural tube defects
Author(s) -
Candenas M.,
Villa R.,
Collar R. Fernandez,
Moina M. J.,
Pintado S.,
Saez F. Garcia,
Alvarez F. V.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.3109/00016349509024447
Subject(s) - medicine , neural tube , obstetrics , pregnancy , incidence (geometry) , neural tube defect , gestational diabetes , prenatal diagnosis , gestational age , population , gestation , gynecology , fetus , pediatrics , embryo , environmental health , genetics , physics , optics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Maternal serum alphafetoprotein (MSAFP) screening has been set up in Asturias, in the north of Spain, in 1987 in order to make possible the prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects (NTD) to overall pregnancy population. This large study shows the high sensitivity and specificity of MSAFP screening when it is done with absolute control of all variables such as gestational age, pregnant woman's weight, diabetes, etc. On the other hand, this study also shows a poor sensitivity second level ultrasound for the early diagnosis of NTD in the presence of spina bifidas with no bulge. We have also observed that the incidence of NTD in Asturias remained constant in the last six years, around 1.5‐1.6 per 1000 pregnancies. However, due to MSAFP screening, there has been a decline in the prevalence of children born with these defects. We conclude that MSAFP screening is the best tool to identify and reduce NTD in our Region (Spain).