AMNIOTIC-FLUID ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN ELEVATION WITH FETAL OMPHALOCELE AND A POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR ITS OCCURRENCE

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 130  (3) , 279-283
Abstract
Prenatal diagnosis of genetic disease and congenital malformations has become a major area of study in obstetrics. Assessment of amniotic fluid .alpha.-fetoprotein (AFP) is useful for diagnosis of neural tube defects. As more patients are evaluated abnormal increases are found in other defects, such as omphalocele, duodenal atresia and congenital nephrosis. Two patients with omphalocele are reported with AFP measurement. A 10-fold elevation of AFP was found in the first patient. In the second case a small omphalocele associated with exstrophy of the cloaca was not accompanied by an abnormal AFP increase. The mechanism of AFP elevation was discussed.