title: Cholinesterase evaluation in the prenatal diagnosis of open neural tube defects.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and cholinesterase levels in amniotic fluid were determined and the efficiency of these laboratory tests in the prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects was examined. Using the AFP test with cut-off levels correlated to gestational age, we have detected 8 cases of neural tube defects and one case of abdominal wall defect in about 1,200 pregnancies; false-negative values were absent. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase activities were measured and the electrophoretic pattern of AChE was examined in 100 amniotic fluid samples. The diagnosis of neural tube defects was always confirmed. There were no diagnostic problems due to blood-contaminated amniotic fluid samples. The results obtained using different quantitative methods for the determination of cholinesterase activity, as well as the potential use of these tests in routine examinations, are discussed.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troccoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biagioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pachì
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ermini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toschi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarsella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giorgi
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases