Biomaterial Database

Raised maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein and pregnancy outcome. 1989

F Strigini, and G B Melis, and M Gasperini, and P Fioretti

With the aim of evaluating the clinical value of raised maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in women with singleton fetuses without structural abnormalities, the outcome of pregnancy was evaluated in a group of 20 women with these characteristics. Only 6 women (30%) delivered fetuses with appropriate birthweight at term; there were 6 pregnancy losses (30%), and the remaining pregnancies ended in pre-term delivery and/or birth of a small for gestational age fetus. Ultrasound examination supplied additional information in 3 cases only. Amniocentesis did not seem to affect pregnancy outcome in this group of high-risk pregnancies. Serial AFP testing was useless for monitoring these pregnancies. It is concluded that raised maternal plasma AFP must be regarded as a marker of poor pregnancy outcome even after exclusion of neural tube defects.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D007745	Labor Onset	The beginning of true OBSTETRIC LABOR which is characterized by the cyclic uterine contractions of increasing frequency, duration, and strength causing CERVICAL DILATATION to begin (LABOR STAGE, FIRST ).	Labor Onsets,Onset, Labor,Onsets, Labor
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D011296	Prenatal Diagnosis	Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth.	Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D005260	Female		Females
D005315	Fetal Diseases	Pathophysiological conditions of the FETUS in the UTERUS. Some fetal diseases may be treated with FETAL THERAPIES.	Embryopathies,Disease, Fetal,Diseases, Fetal,Embryopathy,Fetal Disease
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000509	alpha-Fetoproteins	The first alpha-globulins to appear in mammalian sera during FETAL DEVELOPMENT and the dominant serum proteins in early embryonic life.	alpha-Fetoprotein,alpha Fetoprotein,alpha Fetoproteins