title: Alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid and serum from pregnant women with severe rhesus isoimmunization.
abstract: In 12 pregnant women with severe rhesusiso-immunization the AFP concentration in amniotic fluid (50 samples), maternal serum (212 samples) and cord blood (5 samples) were determined by immuno-electrophoresis. With surviving infants (9 patients) the initial values in amniotic fluid before intrauterine transfusion (IUT) lie evenly distributed within the 90% reference interval. In serum the initial values are within the 90% reference interval, but above the mean level for AFP concentration for gestational age. A similar pattern is seen in the period up to delivery. In 3 cases of intrauterine/neonatal death the initial concentrations of AFP in maternal serum were significantly above the upper limit of normal range, whereas all the initial amniotic fluid concentrations were close to 95% fractile. Intrauterine transfusions do not influence the AFP profiles in a uniform way. The AFP concentration in maternal serum may be used in evaluation of severe rhesus-isoimmunized pregnancies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins