title: Pregnancy outcomes after increasing maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels.
abstract: Five hundred sixty women among 35,787 screened had an initial maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) of 2.5 or more multiples of the median. They were divided into three groups: group 1, 2.5-2.9; group 2, 3.0-3.9; and group 3, over 4.0 multiples of the median. These groupings determined the relationship to adverse pregnancy outcome, defined as fetal death, fetus with significant anomalies, and prematurity/growth retardation. The overall risk of adverse outcome after an initial elevation was 38%, after excluding pregnancies with incorrect dates or multiple gestations with levels below 4.5 multiples of the median: 27, 39, and 45% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This risk rose to 86% for levels over 6.0 multiples of the median. There was a significant positive correlation between abnormalities and death detected with ultrasound and amniocentesis and those indicated by increasing MSAFP levels: 10, 20, and 31% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. After normal ultrasound and amniocentesis studies, there was a trend toward increasing risks for fetal death after 20 weeks between groups 2 and 3 (5 and 11%), but not for growth retardation/prematurity (12, 17, and 13%). After an elevated MSAFP, the overall risk of a late pregnancy complication after normal ultrasound and amniocentesis was 22%: 19, 23, and 25% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This figure increased to 67% for levels above 6.0 multiples of the median.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Robinson
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Grau
authors: B F
authors: BF
authors: Crandall
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins