title: Detection of fetomaternal haemorrhage associated with cordocentesis using serum alpha-fetoprotein and the Kleihauer technique.
abstract: Fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) was studied after 46 cordocenteses. alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) concentration and Kleihauer staining of maternal blood, taken both before and after the procedure, revealed increases in AFP values of more than 40 per cent in 30 per cent of the patients examined; fetal haemorrhage of more than 0.25 ml was detected in 46 per cent of the cases by the Kleihauer test. In the second trimester of pregnancy both techniques are comparable, while in the third trimester the Kleihauer technique appears to be more sensitive in detecting FMH after cordocentesis. An anterior position of the placenta is a risk factor for FMH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Selm
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kanhai
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Van Loon
mesh_terms: D017218:Cordocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin