A stillborn fetus with amniotic band syndrome and elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein plus beta-human chorionic gonadotropin: a case report.
Amniotic band syndrome is an uncommon, congenital fetal abnormality with multiple disfiguring and disabling manifestations. A wide spectrum of clinical deformities are encountered and range from simple ring constrictions to major craniofacial and visceral defects. We report a case of constriction amniotic bands involving upper extremities and intrauterine fetal death due to strangulation of umbilical cord. Abnormally elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-chorionic gonadotropin were detected at 17 weeks' gestation. They were probably caused by the loss of cutaneous integrity of the fetus (alpha-fetoprotein), and by the placental attempt to counteract the fetal growth restriction and hypoxia, due to the strangulation of umbilical cord by the amniotic bands (beta-chorionic gonadotropin).
Sifakis
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece. sifakis@excite.com
Mantas
N
N
Konstantinidou
A
A
Koukoura
O
O
Avgoustinakis
E
E
Koumantakis
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000652:Amniotic Band Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005385:Fingers / Q000002:abnormalities; D005865:Gestational Age; D006228:Hand Deformities, Congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D050497:Stillbirth; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
C097353:AFP protein, human; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins