title: Atrial natriuretic factor in amniotic fluid and in maternal venous blood of pregnancies with fetal cardiac malformations and chromosomal abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in amniotic fluid and in maternal venous blood in pregnancies with fetal cardiac malformations and chromosomal abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy, 151 women were divided into three groups. Group A included patients at lowest risk, carrying a fetus with a normally developing heart and normal karyotype (control group). Group B included women with a fetus suffering from cardiac malformations, with or without associated chromosomal abnormalities. Group C included women carrying a fetus affected with chromosomal abnormalities without congenital cardiopathies. ANF was evaluated by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In maternal venous blood, the mean levels of ANF were 42.1, 53.1 and 38.7 pg/ml in groups A, B and C, respectively. In amniotic fluid, the mean levels of ANF were 34.2, 101.8 and 35.8 pg/ml in groups A, B and C, respectively. In group A (control group) there was no statistical difference in ANF levels across the gestational age range of 16-18 weeks, either in amniotic fluid or in maternal venous blood. A significant difference of ANF content in maternal venous blood was revealed in comparing group A with group B (p < 0.01), and group C with group B (p < 0.01). A statistically significant difference in ANF levels was also found in amniotic fluid between group A and group B (p < 0.01), and between group C and group B (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between group C and group A in comparing ANF levels in maternal venous blood and amniotic fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ANF levels in amniotic fluid and in maternal venous blood are increased early in the case of fetuses with cardiac malformations, with or without associated karyotype alteration. Chromosomally abnormal fetuses without heart malformations have normal ANF levels. These results could be useful for elucidating fetal pathophysiology mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrical-Gynecological and Urological Science and Reproductive Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Lieto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pollio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minutolo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Memoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor