Elevation of maternal α–fetoprotein serum levels in relation to fetomaternal haemorrhage after second trimester pregnancy termination by aspirotomy

Changes in the concentration of alpha‐fetoprotein and placental hormones following two methods of medical abortion in early pregnancy

“…It has been established that measurement of the concentration of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) in maternal serum is a better marker than the Kleihauer test as an index of fetomaternal haemorrhage during pregnancy (Seppala & Ruoslahti 1972; Horacek et al 1976; Lachman et al 1977). Raised maternal serum AFP has been reported following amniocentesis (Chard et al 1976; Horacek et al 1976; Lachman et al 1977), chorionic villous sampling (Warren et al 1985), vacuum aspiration (Naik et al 1988), termination of pregnancy in the mid‐trimester (Ward et al 1976) and dilatation and evacuation (Gravenhorst Bennebroek et al 1986).…”