open access

Vol 88, No 6 (2017)
Research paper
Published online: 2017-06-30
Get Citation

Is unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein still important predictor for adverse pregnancy outcome?

Derya Başbuğ1, Alper Başbuğ2, Cavidan Gülerman
·
Pubmed: 28727133
·
Ginekol Pol 2017;88(6):325-330.
Affiliations
  1. Private Clinic, Duzce, Turkey, Türkiye
  2. Düzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Duzce, Turkey, Türkiye

open access

Vol 88, No 6 (2017)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Obstetrics
Published online: 2017-06-30

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determined the predictive value of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) as a marker for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Material and methods: This study was carried out at Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital between 2009 and 2010. This study included a total of 1,177 pregnant women, including 170 in the study group and 1,007 in the control group. Pregnancy outcomes and characteristics were analyzed with regard to the MSAFP value.

Results: Gestational week, birth weight and APGAR scores were significantly lower in the elevated MSAFP group (p < 0.001). Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), oligohydramnios and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) rates were increased in the elevated MSAFP group.

Conclusions: Although ultrasound outweighs as a screening method for neural tube defects and non-invasive prenatal testing outweighs for aneuploidy screening MSAFP level in the second trimester is still an important predictor for poor maternal/fetal outcomes.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determined the predictive value of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) as a marker for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Material and methods: This study was carried out at Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital between 2009 and 2010. This study included a total of 1,177 pregnant women, including 170 in the study group and 1,007 in the control group. Pregnancy outcomes and characteristics were analyzed with regard to the MSAFP value.

Results: Gestational week, birth weight and APGAR scores were significantly lower in the elevated MSAFP group (p < 0.001). Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), oligohydramnios and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) rates were increased in the elevated MSAFP group.

Conclusions: Although ultrasound outweighs as a screening method for neural tube defects and non-invasive prenatal testing outweighs for aneuploidy screening MSAFP level in the second trimester is still an important predictor for poor maternal/fetal outcomes.

Get Citation

Keywords

alpha-fetoprotein, adverse pregnancy outcome, prenatal tests

About this article
Title

Is unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein still important predictor for adverse pregnancy outcome?

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 88, No 6 (2017)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

325-330

Published online

2017-06-30

Page views

2167

Article views/downloads

13022

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2017.0061

Pubmed

28727133

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2017;88(6):325-330.

Keywords

alpha-fetoprotein
adverse pregnancy outcome
prenatal tests

Authors

Derya Başbuğ
Alper Başbuğ
Cavidan Gülerman

References (20)
  1. Cunningham FG, Lenevo KJ, Bloom SL. Williams Obstetrics. Twenty-Third Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, New York 2010: 288–289.
  2. Milunsky A, Canick JA. Maternal serum screening for neural tube and other defects. In: Milunsky A, Canick JA. ed. Genetic disorders and the fetus. Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, 5th ed. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London 2004: 719.
  3. Robinson L, Grau P, Crandall BF. Pregnancy outcomes after increasing maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. Obstet Gynecol. 1989; 74(1): 17–20.
  4. Crandall BF, Robinson L, Grau P. Risks associated with an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991; 165(3): 581–586.
  5. Haddow JE, Kloza EM, Smith DE, et al. Data from an alpha-fetoprotein pilot screening program in Maine. Obstet Gynecol. 1983; 62(5): 556–560.
  6. Milunsky A. Maternal serum screening for neural tube and other defects. In: Milunsky A. ed. Genetic disorders and the fetus. Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, 3rd ed. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1992: 507–656.
  7. Wapner RJ, Jenkins TM, Khalek N. Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Disorders. In: Creasy RK, Resnik R, Iams JD, Lockwood CJ, Moore T. ed. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice, 6th ed. 2009: 221–226.
  8. Davidson E, Riley S, Roberts S, et al. Maternal serum activin, inhibin, human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein as second trimester predictors of pre-eclampsia. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2003; 110(1): 46–52.
  9. Bartkute K, Balsyte D, Wisser J, et al. Pregnancy outcomes regarding maternal serum AFP value in second trimester screening. J Perinat Med. 2016 [Epub ahead of print].
  10. Tancrède S, Bujold E, Giguère Y, et al. Mid-trimester maternal serum AFP and hCG as markers of preterm and term adverse pregnancy outcomes. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015; 37(2): 111–116.
  11. Androutsopoulos G, Gkogkos P, Papadopoulos V, et al. Mid-trimester maternal serum AFP levels in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 36(4): 237–240.
  12. Wilkins-Haug L. Unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein: what is the appropriate follow-up? Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1998; 10(6): 469–474.
  13. Waller DK, Lustig LS, Cunningham GC, et al. The association between maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, preeclampsia, and placental complications. Obstet Gynecol. 1996; 88(5): 816–822.
  14. Yuan W, Chen L, Bernal AL. Is elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in the second trimester of pregnancy associated with increased preterm birth risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009; 145(1): 57–64.
  15. Morris RK, Cnossen JS, Langejans M, et al. Serum screening with Down's syndrome markers to predict pre-eclampsia and small for gestational age: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2008; 8: 33.
  16. Kang JH, Farina A, Park JiH, et al. Down syndrome biochemical markers and screening for preeclampsia at first and second trimester: correlation with the week of onset and the severity. Prenat Diagn. 2008; 28(8): 704–709.
  17. Wald NJ, Morris JK. Multiple marker second trimester serum screening for pre-eclampsia. J Med Screen. 2001; 8(2): 65–68.
  18. Katz VL, Chescheir NC, Cefalo RC. Unexplained elevations of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1990; 45(11): 719–726.
  19. Smith GCS, Shah I, Crossley JA, et al. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and alpha-fetoprotein and prediction of adverse perinatal outcome. Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 107(1): 161–166.
  20. Anfuso S, Soncini E, Bonelli P, et al. Second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein elevation and its association with adverse maternal/fetal outcome: ten years experience. Acta Biomed. 2007; 78(3): 214–219.

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk
tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail:  viamedica@viamedica.pl