Direct measurement of negative pressure in artificial-biological systems

We are very grateful to A. Gessner for his great help in the construction of the apparatus and A. Meyer for performance of some pressure bomb experiments. This work was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Forschergruppe Ökophysiologie) to U.Z. and O.L.L.     

S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in amniotic fluid as markers of abdominal wall and neural tube defects in the fetus

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is increased leakage of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein into amniotic fluid in pregnancies with neural tube defects, since both these proteins are produced by neural tissue, and to compare the value of these substances for detecting such defects with that of the more conventional techniques of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis. Amniotic samples from 25 mid-pregnancies (15–17 weeks' gestation) with neural tube defects (14 with open spina bifida and 11 with anencephaly) and from seven mid-pregnancies with abdominal wall defects were compared with a control material consisting of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 consecutive mid-pregnancy amniocenteses, with normal karyotypes and AFP concentrations. All of the above cases of abnormalities were primarily detected through increased AFP levels in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples from 13 pregnancies with fetuses with autosomal chromosomal abnormalities and seven amniotic fluid samples contaminated with blood were also included in the investigation. It is concluded from the results that the conventional AFP assay combined with AChE gel electrophoresis is the best method for screening amniotic fluid for neural tube defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Neither NSE nor S-100 assay alone proved to be superior for the detection of these cases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The S-100 assay, however, could give additional information in cases where AChE gel electrophoresis is not decisive; for example, in samples contaminated with blood.     

The in utero diagnosis and management of alloimmune thrombocytopenia

A case is presented in which percutaneous umbilical sampling (PUBS) was utilized in the second and third trimesters for the diagnosis and management of a pregnancy at risk for neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT).     

First trimester prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A: Two years' experience

We evaluated the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A by DNA analysis of chorionic villi. Twenty-two women at risk to transmit the abnormal gene were referred for prenatal diagnosis, two of them twice. Two of the 22 women appeared to be non-carriers by DNA analysis. In one of these women, the results were known only after chorionic villus sampling had been carried out. Thirteen of the twenty carriers were heterozygous for an intragenic (Bell or Xbal) marker; six women were only heterozygous for the extragenic DXS52 (Stl4) locus. One of the women was homozygous for all the presently known DNA markers within or closely linked with the factor VIII locus. Twelve of the 22 fetuses at risk were male, ten were female. Seven of the 12 male fetuses were shown to be affected and were subsequently aborted. Four male fetuses appeared to be not affected. In one case, the diagnosis was made by use of an extragenic marker. The woman rejected fetal blood sampling to confirm the diagnosis. After birth, a normal factor VIII level was found in three of the four cases. The fourth pregnancy is still continuing. In one of the 12 male fetuses, no diagnosis at the gene level was possible. DNA analysis is expected to provide maximum certainty as to the phenotype of the fetus for approximately 60 per cent of the women; for another 37 per cent a rate of misdiagnosis of 4–5 per cent applies. In only 3 per cent of the cases will no diagnosis at the gene level be possible as yet. The new possibility of a prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester of pregnancy enabled some of these women to have a family of their own and was appreciated in particular by the women who underwent fetoscopy in an earlier pregnancy.     

Circulating ‘trophoblast’ cells in pregnancy have maternal genetic markers

A syncytiotrophoblast-associated antigen identified by the monoclonal antibody (McAb) H315 is detectable on the surface of a low proportion of peripheral blood cells in pregnant women, raising the possibility of a new approach to prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. We aimed at verifying the trophoblastic origin of H315⁺ cells and their use for prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia. H315 ⁺ cells were separated from the peripheral blood of pregnant women: the DNA obtained from these cells in two selected cases was shown to have genetic markers indistinguishable from those of the mother and definitely different from the fetus. Our results suggest that H315 antigen is expressed by maternal cells and that prenatal diagnosis on peripheral blood of the mother using H315 McAb is not feasible.