Mid-trimester maternal serum AFP levels in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome (original) (raw)

Mid-trimester maternal serum markers in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol, 2009

Objective: In a prospective study, we investigated the association between mid-trimester maternal serum AFP (ms-AFP), maternal serum hCG (ms-hCG) levels and adverse pregnancy outcome in a South-Western Greek population. Materials and methods: 126 healthy Greek women with spontaneous pregnancies were investigated for ms-AFP and ms-hCG levels between the 13th and 24th weeks of gestation and followed for adverse pregnancy outcome. Abnormal outcomes were considered as ms-AFP levels or ms-hCG levels > 2.0 multiples of the median value for gestation (MoM). Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson's chi-square test. Results: Elevated ms-AFP levels were detected in a total of 25 out of the 126 women studied (19.84%). Elevated ms-hCG levels were detected in a total of ten of the 126 women studied (7.93%). Elevated ms-AFP and ms-hCG levels were detected in a total of four of the 126 women studied (3.17%). Conclusion: Multiparameter testing of placental function in the mid-trimester (uterine artery Doppler, placental morphology, ms-AFP and ms-hCG screening) may allow us to identify women with increased risk of developing severe placental insufficiency and pregnancy complications.

Second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome

Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2001

Background: It is well known that second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MS-AFP) is a predictor for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), such as preterm birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia and small for gestational age (SGA). However, it is unknown whether rst-trimester MS-AFP is also predictive of APOs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data on the rst-trimester MS-AFP levels and pregnancy outcomes of 3325 singleton pregnant women. The cutoff value of 2.5 multiple of the median (MoM) was used to evaluate the risks of APOs regarding MS-AFP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive e ciencies of MS-AFP to these disorders. Results: A total of 181 pregnancies resulted in preterm birth, 32 in stillbirth, 81 in preeclampsia, and 362 in SGA. Compared to women with MS-AFP < 2.5MoM, those with MS-AFP ≥ 2.5MoM had increased risks (odds ratio, 95% con dence interval) of preterm birth (2.53, 1.65~3.88), preeclampsia (3.05, 1.71~5.43) and SGA (1.90, 1.34~2.69), and had an earlier distribution of gestational weeks at delivery (P = 0.004) and a lower distribution of neonatal birth weights (P = 0.000), but the actual between-group differences were minuscule. The areas under ROC curves were 0.572 (P = 0.001), 0.579 (P = 0.015) and 0.565 (P = 0.000) for preterm birth, preeclampsia and SGA, respectively. Subdivisions for the disorders did not obviously improve the performances of MS-AFP. Conclusions: Elevated rst-trimester MS-AFP is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia and SGA. However, the predictive e ciencies were low and it is not a good predictor for these APOs.

Mid-trimester maternal serum AFP and hCG as markers of preterm and term adverse pregnancy outcomes

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal d'obstétrique et gynécologie du Canada : JOGC, 2015

To evaluate the predictive values of mid-trimester serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for preterm and term placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes (PMAPOs). We extracted data for nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy without aneuploidy or lethal fetal anomalies from a prospective cohort study. Maternal serum AFP and hCG measured between 13 and 17 weeks of gestation and expressed as multiples of the median (MoM) for gestational age were compared between women who developed a PMAPO (preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, fetal death) before term or at term and women who did not develop any of these complications. Among 3466 nulliparous women, maternal serum AFP and hCG levels were available in 2110 and 2125 cases, respectively. Women who developed a PMAPO before term had a higher median level of serum AFP (1.4 vs. 1.1 MoM; P < 0.01) and hCG (1.3 vs. 1.1 MoM; P < 0.01) than controls. A serum hCG > 2.0 MoM was associated wit...

Study on Elevated Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein in Second Trimester and Pregnancy Outcome

2015

This study was a prospective observational study sponsored by DBT (Department of Biotechnology), New Delhi. It was carried out in Gauhati Medical College and Hospital during the period 2014-15 with a total of 202 women whose maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) was measured between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation. The objective of the study was to determine whether elevated MSAFP level between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation is associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome including preterm birth, preeclampsia/ eclampsia, SGA, Stillbirth/Neonatal death. MSAFP level was determined by using an immunometric immunoassay technique. Women with MSAFP level ≥ 2.5MoM were defined as elevated MSAFP. Results showed women with elevated MSAFP were significantly more likely to have subsequent adverse pregnancy outcome (70%) compared to women with MSAFP < 2.5 MoM (18.6%) (p<0.0001) with a relative risk of 3.76 (95% confidence interval 2.5 -5.5).It was thus concluded from the stud...

Clinical significance of unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha feto-protein in second trimester of pregnancy

International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2018

Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the major serum protein in the embryonic stage and in the early fetal stage. The aim of this study was to measure maternal serum AFP levels in second trimester between 15-20 weeks of gestation and to determine whether unexplained elevated MSAFP levels is an effective predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome among Indian population. Methods: This study was a prospective observational study, carried out on 400 pregnant women. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) was measured between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation after excluding congenital malformation or birth defects. MSAFP level was determined by using a radio-immunoassay technique. Women with MSAFP level >2.0 MoM was considered as abnormal while MSAFP level≤ 2.0 MoM was considered as normal. All women were followed up till delivery and pregnancy outcomes were noted and compared between two groups. Results: Women with elevated MSAFP had significantly higher adverse pregnancy outcomes (75.4%) compared to women with MSAFP ≤2.0 MoM (26.1%) (p<0.0001 with relative risk of 2.89, 95% confidence interval 2.276-3.667). Conclusions: Unexplained elevated MSAFP has high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. It would, therefore be worthwhile screening pregnant women in second trimester for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels as it would help to identify high risk pregnancies and allow close antenatal survillence for better pregnancy outcome.

Mid-trimester maternal serum hCG and alpha fetal protein levels: clinical significance and prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome

Int J Endocrinol Metab, 2013

Context: Maternal serum human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and Alpha Fetal Protein (AFP) were originally introduced to detect trisomy 21 and neural tube defects. However, in the absence of aneuploidy or neural tube defects, mid-trimester maternal serum hCG and/or maternal serum AFP associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancies with unexplained mid-trimester elevation in maternal serum hCG and/or maternal serum AFP, are at increased risk for pregnancy complications resulting from placental insufficiency. Evidence acquisition: Mid-trimester maternal serum hCG>2.5 MoM associated with an increased risk for pregnancy complications including: late fetal loss, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal death(IUFD). Mid-trimester maternal serum AFP levels >2.5 MoM are thought to reflect a defect in placentation and associated with an increased risk for pregnancy complications including: late fetal loss, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, IUGR, preterm delivery and IUFD. Results: Combined mid-trimester elevation in maternal serum hCG and AFP levels suggest a more complex type of placental pathology. They have stronger association with pregnancy complications including: late fetal loss, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, IUGR, preterm delivery and IUFD. Conclusions: Mid-trimester maternal serum hCG or AFP levels alone cannot detect all pregnant women with increased risk to develop pregnancy complications. Multiparameter testing of placental function in mid-trimester (maternal serum hCG and AFP screening, uterine artery Doppler and placental morphology) may allow us to identify women with increased risk to develop severe placental insufficiency and pregnancy complications. However, future prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic significance of multiparameter testing of placental function in mid-trimester.

alpha-Fetoprotein elevation and proteinuric pre-eclampsia

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1985

In a retrospective study of pregnancy complicated by unexplained elevation of maternal serum or-fetoprotein (AFP), 60 patients were c o m p a r e d with 120 control subjects. Proteinuric pre-eclampsia occurred in 13% of t h e study patients compared with 1% of the control subjects. Primiparity. previous mid-trimester ahortion a n d recurrent abortions were also significantly more common in t h e study group. Tt is proposed that an abnormality of t h e placenta predisposes to complications a n d t h a t this abnormality is expressed early in pregnancy whcn t h e AFP level is first measurcd. This group of women is at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcome and requires careful monitoring.

The value of early third-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein determination

Prenatal Diagnosis, 1990

The value of determination of maternal serum of alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) concentration in i he second trimester is well established. In addition to open neural tube defects, pregnancies associated with elevated second-trimester MSAFP have been shown to be at increased risk for a variety of problems, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). We evaluated the potential usefulness of MSAFP in the early third trimester. MSAFP concentration was determined in over 200 women at the time of glucose screening. Results were analysed with regard to gestational age at sampling, maternal weight, race, diabetes, and presence of twins. MSAFP was twice as high in twin gestation, but not affected by race or the presence of diabetes. In contrast to levels in early gestation, third-trimester MSAFP does not appear to be predictive of preterm delivery, low birth weight, or PIH.

First trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in fetal trisomies

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1995

Purpose: To investigate the predictive values of first-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MS-AFP) to preterm birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia and small for gestational age (SGA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data on the first-trimester MS-AFP levels and pregnancy outcomes of 3325 singleton pregnant women. The cutoff value of 2.5 multiple of the median (MoM) was used to evaluate the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) regarding MS-AFP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive efficiencies of MS-AFP to these disorders. Results: A total of 181 pregnancies resulted in preterm birth, 32 in stillbirth, 81 in preeclampsia, and 362 in SGA. Compared to women with MS-AFP < 2.5MoM, those with MS-AFP ≥ 2.5MoM had increased risks (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) of preterm birth (2.53, 1.65~3.88), preeclampsia (3.05, 1.71~5.43) and SGA (1.90, 1.34~2.69), while the risk of stillbirth was not significantly increased (1.33, 0.40~4.41). The areas under ROC curves were 0.572 (P = 0.001), 0.597 (P = 0.060), 0.579 (P = 0.015) and 0.565 (P = 0.000) for preterm birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia and SGA, respectively. Women with MS-AFP ≥ 2.5MoM had an earlier distribution of gestational weeks at delivery (P = 0.004) and a lower distribution of neonatal birth weights (P = 0.000) compared to those with MS-AFP < 2.5MoM, but the actual between-group differences were minuscule. Conclusion: Elevated first-trimester MS-AFP is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia and SGA. However, the predictive efficiencies were low and it is not a good predictor for these APOs.