Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein is not a useful biological marker of pregnancy outcome

The aim of our study was to determine if the amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprote in (AFP) level could be a useful predictive biochemical marker of pregnancy outcome. Amniotic fluid AFP measurement was prospectively carried out over a three-year period. After excluding factors susceptible to modifying AFP measurements, 587 subjects with gestational age between 14 and 20 weeks wer e selected to compare the amniotic fluid AFP mean levels depending on the o ccurrence of an adverse outcome. No significant associations between amniot ic fluid AFP level and poor pregnancy outcome, i.e. pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, premature rupture of fetal membranes, fetal growth retardation an d placental abnormalities were observed. The routine measurement of amnioti c fluid alpha-fetoprotein during an amniocentesis procedure was not conside red useful in predicting pregnancy complications. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.