VERY LOW MATERNAL PLASMA ALPHA‐FETOPROTEIN CONCENTRATION AN INDICATION FOR FOLLOW‐UP

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Abstract
In the course of a screening program for the detection of fetal neural tube abnormalities by measurement of maternal plasma .alpha.-fetoprotein (AFP), 57 patients were identified who had plasma AFP levels < 7 U/ml at 15-20 wk gestation. Follow-up at the time of screening included requests to confirm that the patient was pregnant and also to repeat the AFP test. Two patients were lost to follow-up and of the remaining 55, 17 patients (31%) were subsequently shown not to have a live fetus and 31 patients (56%) had incorrect estimates of gestation. No particular reason for the very low plasma AFP could be identified in the other 7 patients.