title: A stillborn fetus with amniotic band syndrome and elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein plus beta-human chorionic gonadotropin: a case report.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece. sifakis@excite.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sifakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konstantinidou
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koukoura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avgoustinakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koumantakis
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: C097353:AFP protein, human; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins