title: Reference interval for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein.
abstract: Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration was measured in 237 samples taken throughout the pregnancies of 28 normal pregnant women who all gave birth to normal infants. The patterns from these 28 individuals curves were compared graphically with an earlier published non-parametric 90% reference interval based upon single serum samples from other normal, pregnant women. The two "reference areas" were found to be quite similar. Maternal serum AFP values before and after induced abortion in a case of acrania and spina bifida demonstrated the value of serial maternal serum AFP quantitations in cases of suspected neural tube defects (NTD).
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins