ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein level in midtrimester Korean pregnant women whose neonatal outcomes were normal. METHODS: Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein(AFAFP) levels were measured by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) in midtrimester pregnant women for various indications of amniocentesis from May 1992 to July 1999 at Seoul National University Hospital. Normal ranges were obtained from 640 singleton pregnancies in which neonatal outcomes were normal. RESULTS: Median values of AFAFP in Korean pregnant women were 13,250ng/mL, 12,900ng/mL, 11,150ng/mL, 9,430ng/mL, 8,019ng/mL, 6,800ng/mL, 5,850ng/mL, 5,750ng/mL, 5,210ng/mL, 3,420ng/mL at 15 week, 16 week, 17 week, 18 week, 19 week, 20 week, 21 week, 22 week, 23 week, 24 week, respectively. CONCLUSION: This determination of the median values and the normal range of AFAFP level by each gestational week in uncomplicated Korean women could be used reference values for prenatal diagnosis of various disorders like open neural tube defect.