Role of maternal serum alpha fetoproteins in prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects and down's syndrome

ABSTRACT

Maternal blood was collected from pregnant women [n=38] of rural areas of our region, where consanguineous marriages are predominant [92.11%], and screened for Alpha Fetoprotein [AFP] levels in the serum. The results, from a preliminary study, indicated one case with elevated levels of AFP in the first trimester and two in the second trimester, while one with extremely depressed levels in the second trimester. The patient with an increased AFP level in the first trimester delivered a dead born child, which was microcephalic