MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN AND PREVIOUS NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

  1. N. Wald Lecturer in Medicine 1,
  2. Sheila Barker Research Officer 1,
  3. R. Peto Reader in Cancer Studies 1,
  4. D. J. H. Brock Lecturer 2,
  5. J. Bonnar Clinical Reader 3

Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00811.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 83, Issue 3, pages 213–216, March 1976

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wald, N., Barker, S., Peto, R., Brock, D. J. H. and Bonnar, J. (1976), MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN AND PREVIOUS NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 83: 213–216. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00811.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    D.H.S.S. Cancer Epidemiology and Clinical Trials Unit Department of the Regius Professor of Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford

  2. 2

    University Department of Human Genetics Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

  3. 3

    Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

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Summary

A case-control study involving 63 pregnancies showed that women who had previously had an infant with anencephaly or spina bifida did not have raised serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in subsequent unaffected pregnancies. The value of a serum AFP determination in such women is discussed. If the serum AFP level is normal and if ultrasonography excludes anencephaly the risk of spina bifida might be low enough (about 1 per cent) to make diagnostic amniocentesis difficult to justify. Conversely, a high serum AFP value in such women should not be acted on without confirmation of an abnormality by ultrasonography and, if that is negative, by diagnostic amniocentesis.

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