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Origin of raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in second-trimester oligohydramnios |
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| Authors: | F J Los MD J R Beekhuis J Marrink A M Hagenaars A Reuss E S Sachs M G J Jahoda J W Wladimiroff |
| Institution: | 1. Departments of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands;2. Department of Teratology, Endocrinology and Perinatal Screening, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands;3. Departments of Clinical Genetics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Concanavalin A (Con A) subtyping of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) revealed higher concentrations of AFP non-reactive with Con A in sera of 12 pregnant women with second-trimester oligohydramnios and raised total serum AFP levels than in sera of 42 pregnant women with raised total serum AFP levels and a normal amniotic fluid volume. This suggests that in oligohydramnios the origin of excess AFP in the maternal compartment is amniotic fluid. It is proposed that oligohydramnios and the associated raised maternal serum AFP levels are caused by damage of the fetal membranes prior to 16 weeks of gestation resulting in leakage of amniotic fluid to the decidual tissue and resorption in the maternal circulation. |
| Keywords: | Oligohydramnios Alpha-fetoprotein Concanavalin A Fetal membranes |