Alfa-fetoproteins in high risk pregnancies and perinatal outcome

In this study 70 subjects and 70 controlled were examined. All patients had serum alpha-fetoprotein screening between 17 and 22 ws. with Abbott enzyme immunoassay. Ultrasonography was done on the 20th week. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 41 years and risk factors were present in 50% in subjects found to have unexplained elevated alpha-fetoprotein in maternal serum. However, no statistical difference was found in adverse outcome of the perinates reaching 31.4% in patients with risk factors and 34.2% in control without risk factors. It is therefore concluded that in presence or absence of risk factors of pregnancy the maternal serum alpha fetoprotein did not appear to have additional predictive value for adverse perinatal outcome