title: Human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein levels in matched samples of amniotic fluid, extraembryonic coelomic fluid, and maternal serum in the first trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: Separately identified samples of amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid obtained by high resolution transvaginal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis from 32 women between 7 and 12 weeks of pregnancy were analysed for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). There was a highly significant difference between the hCG levels in amniotic fluid (median level 6.3 U/ml; range 1.6-310.0 U/ml) and those in extraembryonic coelomic fluid (median level 400.0 U/ml; range 135.0-2250.0 U/ml) (p less than 0.001; Mann-Whitney U-test). The levels of AFP were very similar in amniotic fluid (median 26.0 kU/ml; range 10.0-116.5 kU/ml) and extraembryonic coelomic fluid (median level 24.1 kU/ml; range 12.4-94.4 kU/ml).
authors.affiliation: Combined Academic Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wathen
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cass
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kitau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chard
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins