title: Prenatal differentiation of ventral abdominal wall defects. Are amniotic fluid markers useful adjuncts?
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed 29 cases of ventral abdominal wall defects to evaluate the usefulness of amniotic fluid markers in the prenatal assessment of those disorders. Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AF-AFP) values were available in 17 cases diagnosed prior to 22 weeks' gestation and acetylcholinesterase (AF-ACE) values, in 21 cases. All 7 fetuses with a gastroschisis had an elevated AF-AFP, while only 2 of the 10 fetuses with an omphalocele had elevated values (P = .002). ACE was present in 80% of the cases of gastroschisis versus 27.3% of the cases of omphalocele (P = .03). With equivocal sonographic findings, a normal AF-AFP and negative AF-ACE may be more compatible with an omphalocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35233-7333.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Brumfield
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Boots
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Krassikoff
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hauth
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry*; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000592:standards; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase