title: Changes in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels associated with intrauterine genetic diagnostic procedures.
abstract: The amount of fetal-maternal transfusion during invasive intrauterine diagnostic instrumentation was determined by measuring the increase in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (delta AFP) caused by the procedure. Fetal liver biopsy or fetoscopy for purposes other than blood sampling caused a mean delta AFP of 11.4 ng/ml and 34.2 ng/ml, respectively. Fetoscopy with fetal blood sampling produced a mean delta AFP of 211.8 ng/ml, while fetoscopy followed by placentesis caused a mean delta AFP of 462.8 ng/ml (representing a 1.07 ml fetal-maternal transfusion). Although this magnitude of fetal-maternal transfusion is an acceptable risk for the fetus, it is a sufficient transfusion to cause blood cell antigen sensitization.
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D020669:Fetoscopes; D005332:Fetoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010925:Placental Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins