Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein for prediction of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Abstract

Serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) was assayed in 154 pregnant women in midtrimester to evaluate its efficacy as an indicator of fetal wellbeing. Raised serum AFP level accurately predicated the presence of congenital malformations in two fetuses (anencephaly in one and duodenal atresia in another). One fetus with meningomyelocele was not detected by AFP because of estimation at an early gestation. Low AFP levels showed a significant correlation with neonatal morbidity (P< 001). The AFP levels did not correlate with neonatal death.