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Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were higher in 10 twin pregnancies and one triplet pregnancy than in 22 control singleton pregnancies matched for maternal age, parity, and the time of gestation at which the serum sample was taken. In twin pregnancies the average AFP levels were double those found in singleton pregnancies and the level in the triplet pregnancy was even higher. Raised maternal serum AFP values due to multiple pregnancy should not cause unnecessary amniocentesis in the diagnosis of anencephaly or spina bifida if an ultrasound investigation is routinely performed first.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/bmj.1.5959.651

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br Med J

Publication Date

22/03/1975

Volume

1

Pages

651 - 652

Keywords

Adult, Anencephaly, Female, Fetal Proteins, Humans, Maternal Age, Parity, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Multiple, Radioimmunoassay, Spinal Dysraphism, Time Factors, Triplets, Twins, alpha-Fetoproteins