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Is the ratio of maternal serum to amniotic fluid AFP superior to serum levels as a predictor of pregnancy complications?

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The use of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels as a predictor of pregnancy complications (PC) is well established. We hypothesized that the ratio between the MSAFP/AFAFP levels (RATIO) will more accurately predict PC than MSAFP levels alone.

Methods

Women who had a MSAFP test followed by amniocentesis were divided into two groups: those who had PC comprised the study group and those who had an uneventful pregnancy served as the control group. Data regarding pregnancy and delivery course were collected. The RATIO between the study and the control groups was compared.

Results

166 women were included in the study, of which 24 had PC. A significant correlation was found between the RATIO and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and week of delivery. Six pregnancies had elevated MSAFP levels; two with RATIO below 2 had uneventful pregnancies. Among the other four pregnancies with RATIO above two, one had IUGR and the other, placental abruption.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that the RATIO might serve as a predictor of IUGR and week of delivery. Although the number of patients in the current study was relatively small, the novelty of the proposed simple marker implies that a larger scale study is warranted. Such studies may confirm this finding and a possible advantage of using this RATIO instead of or in addition to MSAFP values for better prediction of pregnancies at risk for PC.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Faye Schreiber, MS for editorial assistance and Nava Jelin, MS for statistical consultation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Genetics Institute, Meir Medical Center, 49 Tchernichovsky St., 44281, Kfar Saba, Israel

    Reuven Sharony & Dikla Dayan

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel

    Reuven Sharony, Dikla Dayan, Arie Berkovitz & Tal Biron-Shental

  3. Pathology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel

    Debora Kidron

  4. Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel

    Ron Maymon

  5. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Reuven Sharony, Debora Kidron, Arie Berkovitz, Tal Biron-Shental & Ron Maymon

  6. Central Laboratory, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Mira Manor

Authors
  1. Reuven Sharony
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  2. Dikla Dayan
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  3. Debora Kidron
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  4. Mira Manor
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  5. Arie Berkovitz
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  6. Tal Biron-Shental
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  7. Ron Maymon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reuven Sharony.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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Sharony, R., Dayan, D., Kidron, D. et al. Is the ratio of maternal serum to amniotic fluid AFP superior to serum levels as a predictor of pregnancy complications?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 293, 767–770 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3905-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3905-9

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