title: Maternal serum transformed alpha-fetoprotein levels in women with intrauterine growth retardation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate maternal serum transformed alpha-fetoprotein (t-AFP) levels in women with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  60 pregnant women in two groups were studied: 30 with IUGR and 30 healthy pregnant women as a control group. t-AFP concentrations were determined by ELISA assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum t-AFP levels were higher in women with IUGR than in the control group: 15.39 (10.81-24.01) ng/ml vs. 8.66 (6.22-13.45) ng/ml (p = 0.003). t-AFP levels were even higher in those with fetal hemodynamic redistribution 21.08 (16.02-40.85) ng/ml than in those without 12.15 (10.48-17.45) ng/ml (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum t-AFP is increased in women with IUGR and this elevation is marked in those with fetal hemodynamic redistribution.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. joseluis.bartha@uca.es
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bartha
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Illanes
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Bugatto
authors.forename: Sherif A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Fattah
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mizejewski
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Soothill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins