title: Acetylcholinesterase and fetal malformations: modified qualitative technique for diagnosis of neural tube defects.
abstract: A single-blind study involving amniotic-fluid samples from 214 pregnancies of known outcome confirms that an electrophoretically distinct isoenzyme of acetylcholinesterase is associated with fetal open neural tube defects. Furthermore, only one of 13 amniotic-fluid samples with false-positive results for alpha-fetoprotein showed the characteristic isoenzyme, indicating that qualitative acetylcholinesterase assessment can decrease the proportion of false positives from the alpha-fetoprotein assay. We have also identified this characteristic isoenzyme in amniotic fluids from pregnancies in which other serious fetal defects occurred. A detailed electrophoresis protocol for identifying this characteristic isoenzyme is described.
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis*; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase