No Effect of Fetal Sex on Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein

Drugan, Arie; Yaron, Yuval; Murphy, James M.; Ebrahim, Salah A.D.; Kramer, Ralph L.; Johnson, Mark P.; Evans, Mark I.

doi:10.1159/000264491

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Drugan et al [6] reported on 648 amniocenteses and AFAFP level results that were performed at 15-20 weeks due to advanced maternal age, all of them had a normal karyotype, course, and ultrasound examination results. Three hundred and nine fetuses were male, 294 were female and there were 43 pairs of discordant-sex twins.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Influenced by the Gender in Twin Pairs?

Sharony

Drugan²,

Amiel³

et al. 2003

Fetal Diagn Ther

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Objectives: To examine the assumption that amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFAFP) levels are different in female and male twin fetuses. Design: Amniotic fluid levels of AFP in pregnancies with female and male fetuses in gender-concordant and gender-discordant twins were compared. A t test of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Material and Methods: Between 1995 and 1999, 332 genetic amniocenteses on twin pregnancies were performed at Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, and Rambam Hospital, Haifa, Israel. One hundred and sixty-six were concordant for gender (84 females and 82 males) while 166 pairs differed in their gender. The amniotic fluid AFP levels of each sac were measured using fluorescent immunoassay methods by an AutoDELFIA machine. Results: The mean levels of AFAFP were lower in female twins compared to their male counterparts in same-gender twins (p = 0.07), although the difference was quite small. Nevertheless, there was no such difference between AFAFP of male versus female fetuses in gender-discordant twins. Conclusions: The levels of AFAFP were higher in the male twins of gender-concordant twins in comparison to female twins. No such difference was found between female versus male fetuses in gender-disconcordant twins.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Influenced by the Gender in Twin Pairs?

Sharony

Drugan²,

Amiel³

et al. 2003

Fetal Diagn Ther

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“…This is in agreement with the study of Wenstrom et al (1996) which found that fetuses with elevated amniotic fluid AFP were significantly more likely to be male. Conversely, the study of Drugan et al (1997) concluded that gender had no impact on amniotic fluid AFP in singleton or twin pregnancies. Quantitative amniotic fluid AFP measurement does not seem to be predictive of future pregnancy complications according to our results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein is not a useful biological marker of pregnancy outcome

et al. 1999

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The aim of our study was to determine if the amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level could be a useful predictive biochemical marker of pregnancy outcome. Amniotic fluid AFP measurement was prospectively carried out over a three‐year period. After excluding factors susceptible to modifying AFP measurements, 587 subjects with gestational age between 14 and 20 weeks were selected to compare the amniotic fluid AFP mean levels depending on the occurrence of an adverse outcome. No significant associations between amniotic fluid AFP level and poor pregnancy outcome, i.e. pre‐eclampsia, preterm delivery, premature rupture of fetal membranes, fetal growth retardation and placental abnormalities were observed. The routine measurement of amniotic fluid alpha‐fetoprotein during an amniocentesis procedure was not considered useful in predicting pregnancy complications. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…They reevaluated that question and reported on 648 amniocenteses and AFAFP level [25] . They concluded that in singleton or twin pregnancies, the AFP concentration in amniotic fluid is not affected by fetal gender [25] . A similar conclusion was reached by Sharony et al [26] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amniocentesis for Twin Pregnancies: Is Alpha-Fetoprotein Useful in Confirming that the Two Sacs Were Sampled?

Delisle

Wilson²

2007

Fetal Diagn Ther

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Objective: To assess if amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFAFP) could be useful to determine if both sacs are sampled during an amniocentesis for twin pregnancies. Method: We reviewed all amniocenteses performed on twin pregnancies over a 5-year period. Inclusion criteria were restricted to pregnancies where both karyotypes and AFAFP were available on each fetus. Pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies were excluded. The following information was obtained: maternal age, gestational age at the procedure, karyotypes, AFAFP values, pregnancy and neonatal outcome. Placental pathology reports were used to confirm chorionicity. Analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the fetal gender and chorionicity on the AFAFP values. Results: 260 pregnancies were reviewed. Mean maternal age was 36.9 years (33.6, 40.1). Gestational age at the time of the procedure was 16.2 weeks (14.5, 17.9). Complications included 1.8% of misdiagnosis (discrepancy between karyotype and gender). The difference of AFAFP values between the two fetuses was statistically larger in dichorionic pregnancies than in monochorionic gestations. Fetal gender had no influence on the AFAFP. Conclusion: Amniocentesis in twin pregnancies is associated with a 1.8% risk of misdiagnosis. AFAFP can help to assess the chorionicity of a twin pregnancy. When the difference between the two values is <0.2 MoM and the chorionicity was thought to be dichorionic and the two karyotypes are similar, then failure to sample both sacs should be suspected.

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No Effect of Fetal Sex on Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein

Cited by 5 publications

References 11 publications

Are Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Influenced by the Gender in Twin Pairs?

Are Amniotic Fluid Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Influenced by the Gender in Twin Pairs?

Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein is not a useful biological marker of pregnancy outcome

Amniocentesis for Twin Pregnancies: Is Alpha-Fetoprotein Useful in Confirming that the Two Sacs Were Sampled?

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