Prenatal Diagnosis of Spina Bifida and Anencephaly Through Maternal Plasma-Alpha-Fetoprotein Measurement

“…Measurement of AFP levels in amniotic fluid gained general acceptance as a means of diagnosing affected fetuses when there was a positive family history, but had little public health impact because 90% of detectable defects occur in families not known to be at risk (143). In 1974, Brock et al (144) reported elevated levels of AFP in the sera of women carrying affected fetuses, and serum screening was proposed as a means of determining when amniocentesis should be recommended.…”

Section: Maternal Serum Afp Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues in Antenatal and Neonatal Screening and Surveillance for Hereditary and Congenital Disorders

Holtzman¹,

Leonard²,

Farfel³

1981

Annu. Rev. Public Health

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“…The potential of this new approach was initially disputed [48], However, further data showed that maternal serum AFP determination would iden tify some, though by no means all, cases of both anencephaly and spina bifida [26,29,56,77,95]. It will be some time before the efficacy of the new method can be pre cisely defined.…”

Section: Screening For Cns Malformationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

α-Fetoprotein and the Prenatal Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Disorders

Brock¹

1976

Pediatr Neurosurg

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The use of amniotic fluid α-fetoprotein measurements in the early prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system disorders is reviewed. The method is sensitive and specific and has had a pronounced effect on the counselling of mothers who have already had a child with spina bifida or anencephaly. Measurement of other amniotic fluid components, such as fetal macrophages, β-trace protein, α₂-macroglobulin or fibrinogen-degradation products, is less reliable and these should not be used in making primary diagnoses. The assay of α-fetoprotein in maternal serum shows signs of being a useful preliminary screening process, and may identify pregnancies where amniocentesis and confirmatory amniotic fluid determinations should be offered.

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Prenatal Diagnosis of Spina Bifida and Anencephaly Through Maternal Plasma-Alpha-Fetoprotein Measurement

Cited by 112 publications

References 11 publications

Maternal Plasma α-Feto-Protein in Pregnancies Terminating in Spontaneous Abortion

Maternal Plasma α-Feto-Protein in Pregnancies Terminating in Spontaneous Abortion

Issues in Antenatal and Neonatal Screening and Surveillance for Hereditary and Congenital Disorders

α-Fetoprotein and the Prenatal Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Disorders

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