title: First-trimester amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase electrophoresis.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis was performed on normal amniotic fluids obtained at 4-15 weeks of pregnancy. Until 8 weeks, all the fluids were AChE-positive; the percentage of positive specimens decreased from 9 until 11 weeks and no positive specimen was found after 12 weeks. This method may allow early prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects after the 12th week.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Oury
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boue
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase