title: Smoking habits and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels during the second trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: In a prospective study the influence of cigarette smoking on maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels at 16 weeks gestation was examined. Significantly higher levels were found in 120 smokers compared with 138 non-smokers (median 54.0 and 44.3 micrograms/1 respectively, P less than 0.001). No difference in maternal body weight between the two groups could account for the results. The possibility of smoking-induced increased permeability of the placental barrier is discussed.
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins