title: [Relation between the body weight of the pregnant patient and her serum alpha fetoprotein levels].
abstract: In 1000 singleton pregnancies between 16 and 18 weeks maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were related to maternal weight. The heavier women had lower mean levels apparently as a result of the diluting effect of larger blood volume. Lighter women had higher AFP levels, perhaps on account of the greater concentration of AFP in their relatively smaller volume of blood. A policy of evaluating the maternal serum AFP level according to maternal weight among women with borderline positive results could reduce both the number of patients having a diagnostic amniocentesis, and the rate of false negative cases.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardó
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wessely
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D001810:Blood Volume; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
vernacular_title: Zusammenhang zwischen Gewicht der Schwangeren und ihrem Serum-Alphafetoprotein-Niveau.