Elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein caused by midtrimester amniocentesis: a prognostic factor.
In a prospective investigation, 247 patients underwent ultrasonically guided midtrimester amniocentesis. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured before and after the procedure. In 229 patients, preamniocentesis AFP exceeded 19 micrograms/liter. Forty-eight (21.0%) of these displayed a significant elevation of AFP induced by the procedure, indicating fetal-maternal bleeding. This event was correlated with anterior placental location (P less than .025) and was followed by a significantly reduced mean fetal birth weight (3143 versus 3385 g, P less than .05). In addition, a nonsignificant (.10 less than P less than .20) doubling of the risk of giving birth to a child small for gestational age was observed. These findings suggest that amniocentesis represents a potential hazard to the fetus. The implications in relation to the widening indications for amniocentesis are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins