title: Affinity chromatography of amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein using concanavalin A-sepharose.
abstract: We measured Concanavalin A (Con A) non-binding alphafetoprotein in amniotic fluid from 21 normal pregnancies and 20 abnormal pregnancies (complicated by anencephaly, spina bifida, or exomphalos) using small Con A-sepharose chromatography columns. There was a highly significant difference between percentage non-binding alphafetoprotein levels for pregnancies with a normal outcome (mean result 32%; range 18-47%) and pregnancies complicated by a neural tube defect or exomphalos (mean 14%; range 7-20%). The test is therefore of potential value in cases where there is uncertainty over the interpretation of total amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein levels.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012685:Sepharose; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012685:Sepharose