Reproductive factors and extreme levels of maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein: a population‐based study

Lei, Ulrikke; Wohlfahrt, Jan; Christens, Peter; Westergaard, Tine; Lambe, Mats; Nørgaard‐Pedersen, Bent; Melbye, Mads

doi:10.1111/j.0001-6349.2004.00471.x

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…16 This multicentre screening program was initiated in 1980 and offered MS-AFP screening for all pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at any centre included in the program. 17 The AFP assays were carried out by the same laboratory during the entire study period, 18 and the database comprising all of the patients participating in the program was created and maintained at SSI. This includes each participant's CPR number, date of MS-AFP sampling, gestational week of sampling, sample identification number, and MS-AFP level recorded in both The International System of Units (kIU/L) and standardized units as MoMs.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Maternal Serum alpha-Fetoprotein Levels during Pregnancy

et al. 2011

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Objective: Numerous studies have been trying to disentangle the complex pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In our study, we explored the potential role of maternal serum (MS) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the prediction and the pathophysiology of ASD.Methods: A total of 112 patients with ASD and 243 control subjects were included in a case-control study, using a historic birth cohort maintained at Statens Serum Institute. Measurements of MS-AFP were obtained from a multicentre screening program, whereas clinical data were obtained from nationwide registers. Association between MS-AFP and ASD status was analyzed using logistic regression models and nonparametric tests. Results:Crude, but not adjusted, estimates showed that MS-AFP levels were slightly, but significantly, higher in mothers of children with ASD, compared with their control subject counterparts. People with ASD had an odds ratio of 2.33, with 95% confidence intervals of 1.00 to 5.39, to have MS-AFP above 2.5 multiple of median. Excluding subjects with congenital malformation comorbidities did not alter the direction of our estimates (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.04 to 6.51, P = 0.04). Conclusion:Biologic plausibility of its role in the pathophysiology of ASD makes AFP a good candidate for further larger-scale studies to confirm such an association and to determine whether this pattern is unique to ASD or related to other psychiatric disorders as well.Can J Psychiatry. 2011;56(12):727-734. Clinical Implications• People with ASD showed an increased risk of elevated MS-AFP levels regardless of their congenital malformation comorbidities.• Confirming the potential role of AFP in autism is feasibile and cost-effective because it is part of routine antenatal screening for neural tube defects in several countries.• Historic birth cohorts and nationwide biobanks provide precious resources for research in psychiatry. Limitations• Our study used Danish nationwide health registers, and no information on psychiatric symptomatology was present to validate the diagnoses.• Our study had a relatively small sample size.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Maternal Serum alpha-Fetoprotein Levels during Pregnancy

et al. 2011

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“…Such conditions included severe preeclampsia, premature labor, intrauterine and/or perinatal death, preterm birth, fetal wastage, and trophoblast abnormalities, including placental previa and disruption (88)(89)(90)(91)(92). Nonpathologic elevations of AFP in pregnancy can be the result of physiologic or procedural phenomena such as twining or multiple pregnancy, low birth weight, prematurity, or incorrect gestational age dating (93)(94)(95)(96).…”

Section: Adverse Pregnancy Complications/outcomes Related To Hafp Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiology of Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Biomarker for Perinatal Distress: Relevance to Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

Mizejewski

2007

Exp Biol Med (Maywood)

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The many physiologic roles of human alpha-fetoprotein (HAFP) and its correlation with perinatal distress/pregnancy outcome are rarely addressed together in the biomedical literature, even though HAFP has long been used as a biomarker for fetal birth defects. Although the well being of the fetus can be monitored by the measurement of gestational age-dependent HAFP in biologic fluid levels (serum, amniotic fluid, urine, and vaginal fluids) throughout pregnancy, the majority of clinical reports reflect largely second trimester and (less likely) first trimester testing due to regulatory clinical restrictions. However, reports of third-trimester and pregnancy term measurement of HAFP levels performed in clinical research and/or investigational settings have gradually increased over the years and have expanded our base knowledge of AFP-associated pregnancy disorders during these stages. The different structural forms of HAFP (isoforms, epitopes, molecular variants, etc.) detected in the various biologic fluid compartments have been limited by antibody recognition of specific epitopic sites developed by the kit manufacturers based on antibody specificity, sensitivity, and precision. Concomitantly, the advances in elucidating the various biologic actions of AFP are opening new vistas toward understanding the physiologic roles of AFP during pregnancy. The present review surveys HAFP as a biomarker for fetal distress during the perinatal period in view of its structural and functional properties. An attempt is then made to relate the AFP fluid levels to adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes. Hence, the present review was divided into two major sections: (I) AFP structure and function considerations and (II) the relationship of AFP levels to the distressed fetus during the third trimester and at term.

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Current awareness in prenatal diagnosis

2005

Prenat. Diagn.

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In order to keep subscribers up‐to‐date with the latest developments in their field, John Wiley & Sons are providing a current awareness service in each issue of the journal. The bibliography contains newly published material in the field of prenatal diagnosis. Each bibliography is divided into 17 sections: 1 Books, Reviews & Symposia; 2 General Interest; 3 Normal Fetal Development; 4 Gametogenesis and Pre‐implantation Diagnosis; 5 First Trimester Diagnosis; 6 Second Trimester Diagnosis; 7 Fetal Diagnosis by Ultrasound and Other Imaging; 8 Maternal Screening; 9 Screening for Carriers of Genetic Abnormality; 10 Technological Developments; 11 Confined Placental Mosaicism and Uniparental Disomy; 12 Molecular Cytogenetics; 13 Fetal Cells in Maternal Circulation; 14 Fetal Therapy; 15 Psychosocial Aspects; 16 Epidemiology and Environmental Factors; 17 Developmental Pathology. Within each section, articles are listed in alphabetical order with respect to author. If, in the preceding period, no publications are located relevant to any one of these headings, that section will be omitted

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Reproductive factors and extreme levels of maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein: a population‐based study

Abstract: Low serum AFP levels in pregnancy are significantly correlated with high parity and with a short interval between births. The significantly lower levels of AFP in women who gave birth to girls could indicate a possible gender-specific regulatory mechanism.

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Maternal Serum alpha-Fetoprotein Levels during Pregnancy

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Maternal Serum alpha-Fetoprotein Levels during Pregnancy

Physiology of Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Biomarker for Perinatal Distress: Relevance to Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

Current awareness in prenatal diagnosis

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