Evaluating fetomaternal hemorrhage by alphafetoprotein and Kleihauer following therapeutic abortions.
In a survey of 75 patients at 6-11 weeks gestation, fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) was detected by significant rises (greater than 2 S.D.) in maternal alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels in 57% of patients, while increased fetal cells were detected by the Kleihauer test in 24% of patients. With increasing gestation, FMH was detected more readily by both tests; however, in evaluating FMH at less than 10 weeks gestation. AFP was found to be a more sensitive and reliable marker than the Kleihauer test. We suggest that there is a gray zone for the Kleihauer test in early gestation, when erythroblasts containing embryonic hemoglobins are gradually replaced in the fetal circulation by erythrocytes containing fetal hemoglobin.
D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000097:blood*; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D006441:Hemoglobin A; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin