Abstract
An analysis has been made of indications for amniocentesis in the Edinburgh area from 1979 to 1981. About 5% of all mothers underwent the procedure. Among 2137 amniocenteses, 37% were performed on mothers 35 years old or more, and 30% on patients with raised serum alpha-fetoprotein. The total number of amniocenteses and the categories have been stable for the past three years. As a result of amniocentesis 104 pregnancies were terminated, 66 of which (63%) followed a raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein indication, while only 10 (9.6%) were in mothers aged 35 or more. There were a further 12 terminations based on raised serum alpha-fetoprotein but where no amniocentesis had been thought necessary. Even when figures for anencephaly are excluded from the analysis, maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening was responsible for detecting 35 out of 63 (56%) abnormal fetuses. This constitutes a strong case for the continuation of alpha-fetoprotein screening programmes.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.