Routine amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein measurement in 34,000 pregnancies

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1984 Aug 1;149(7):744-7. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(84)90115-7.

Abstract

Of 34,000 initial amniotic fluid samples, 0.7% had an alpha-fetoprotein level greater than or equal to +3 SD above the mean. The risk of an open neural tube defect or other serious fetal abnormality was 60% when alpha-fetoprotein levels measured greater than or equal to +3 and 86% for levels greater than or equal to +5 SD. In this series there were 72 open neural tube defects, and all were identified. The true false positive rate was 0.9 per 10,000 cases screened.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / analysis
  • Adult
  • Amniocentesis
  • Amniotic Fluid / analysis*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Electrophoresis, Disc
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maternal Age
  • Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis*
  • Neural Tube Defects / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Risk
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*

Substances

  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Acetylcholinesterase