Changes in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels associated with intrauterine genetic diagnostic procedures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The amount of fetal—maternal transfusion during invasive intrauterine diagnostic instrumentation was determined by measuring the increase in maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein (Δ AFP) caused by the procedure. Fetal liver biopsy or fetoscopy for purposes other than blood sampling caused a mean Δ AFP of 11.4 ng/ml and 34.2 ng/ml, respectively. Fetoscopy with fetal blood sampling produced a mean Δ AFP of 211.8 ng/ml, while fetoscopy followed by placentesis caused a mean Δ AFP of 462.8 ng/ml (representing a 1.07 ml fetal—maternal transfusion). Although this magnitude of fetal—maternal transfusion is an acceptable risk for the fetus, it is a sufficient transfusion to cause blood cell antigen sensitization.