title: Very low maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein concentration. An indication for follow-up.
abstract: In the course of a screening programme for the detection of fetal neural tube abnormalities by measurement of maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), 57 patients were identified who had plasma AFP levels of less than 7 units/ml at 15-20 weeks gestation. follow-up at the time of screening included requests to confirm that the patient was pregnant and also to repeat the AFP test. Tow patients were lost to follow-up and of the remaining 55, 17 patients (31 per cent) were subsequently shown not to have a live fetus and 31 patients (56 per cent) had incorrect estimates of gestation. No particular reason for the very low plasma AFP could be identified in the other seven patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins