JUM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Order Full text via Infotrieve
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Shields, L. E.
Right arrow Articles by Winter, T. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Shields, L. E.
Right arrow Articles by Winter, T. C.

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 11 735-739, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein determination at the time of genetic amniocentesis: has it outlived its usefulness?

L. E. Shields, S. B. Uhrich, C. A. Komarniski, M. H. Wener and T. C. Winter
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the utility of routine measurement of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels at the time of second trimester genetic amniocentesis (mean gestational age, 17.3 weeks +/- 2.5 weeks standard deviation; median, 16.8 weeks; range, 15 to 22 weeks). During the study period 7174 patients underwent second trimester genetic amniocentesis. Outcome data were available in all cases. In 79 (1.1%) cases the amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein level was > or = 2.0 multiples of the median. Thirty-three of the 79 (42%) patients had normal ultrasonograms, and in 31 of 33 (94%) the amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein level was between 2.0 and 3.0 multiples of the median. Forty-six of the 79 (58%) patients had abnormal ultrasonographic findings, and of these, 82% were neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects, or cystic hygromas. Acetylcholinesterase was positive in 37 cases, all of which had abnormal ultrasonographic findings. None of the fetuses with negative findings on sonographic screening had detectable abnormalities at birth. In this study, with over 7000 patients, amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase levels did not increase the detection of fetal abnormalities. On the basis of these results, routine measurement of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein level at the time of routine genetic amniocentesis (15 to 22 weeks) does not appear justified.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Journal of Diagnostic Medical SonographyHome page
S. R. Stephenson
Sonographic Signs of Midgut Malformations Due to Ventral Wall Defects
Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, July 1, 2004; 20(4): 246 - 253.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.