MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN IN FETAL NEURAL-TUBE AND ABDOMINAL-WALL DEFECTS AT 10 TO 14 WEEKS OF GESTATION

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration was determined in nine pregnancies with fetal anencephaly, seven with exomphalos containing l iver, two with spina bifida and 100 normal controls at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation. The median alpha-fetoprotein in the group with fetal ane ncephaly and exomphalos was significantly higher than in normal fetuse s but the sensitivity of this test is likely to be only about 30% for a false positive rate of 5%.