title: [Unexplained increase in maternal plasma in alpha-fetoproteins in the second trimester of pregnancy: perinatal results].
abstract: To determine the relation between adverse perinatal events and an unexplained mid-trimester elevation in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) in an unselected population, 16,093 women with a singleton pregnancy delivered between January 1985 and November 1991, at the Queen Mother's Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, were studied. The elevated MSAFP group (n = 606) was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (odds ratios/95% confidence intervals) (3.7/2.6-5.2), small or gestational age (4.5/3.3-6.1), intrauterine death (3.9/1.7-9.4), and placental abruption (3.2/1.5-6.7). The risks increased with MSAP concentration. An unexplained mid-trimester elevation of MSAFP is associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal events, thus acting as a non-specific marker o a "high risk pregnancy". Alterations to current antenatal management in this group may improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Herminda Martín, Chillán.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cox M
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kingdom
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McNay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crossley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
vernacular_title: Elevación inexplicada de niveles plasmaticos maternos de alpha-fetoproteína en el segundo trimestre del embarazo: resultados perinatales.