No abstract

Separately identified samples of amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid obtained by high resolution transvaginal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis from 32 women between 7 and 12 weeks of pregnancy were analysed for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). There was a highly significant difference between the hCG levels in amniotic fluid (median level 6.3 U/ml; range 1.6-310.0 U/ml) and those in extraembryonic coelomic fluid (median level 400.0 U/ml; range 135.0-2250.0 U/ml) (p less than 0.001; Mann-Whitney U-test). The levels of AFP were very similar in amniotic fluid (median 26.0 kU/ml; range 10.0-116.5 kU/ml) and extraembryonic coelomic fluid (median level 24.1 kU/ml; range 12.4-94.4 kU/ml).

No abstract

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured in maternal, cord arterial and venous blood. Samples were collected at the time of vaginal delivery from 105 women at 36-42 weeks' gestation. There was a significant correlation between maternal, cord arterial and venous AFP. Umbilical cord arterial and venous AFP levels were considerably higher in male infants than in females. Umbilical AFP levels declined with lengthening gestation and increasing birthweight for both male and female infants and a similar pattern was seen in the mother. Fetal AFP levels were significantly higher in subjects giving birth at 40 weeks whose infants had a birthweight below the population mean vis-à-vis those above the mean. It is concluded that the absolute size of the fetus as well as gestational age may play a significant role in determining maternal and fetal AFP concentration.