The Study of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein in Threatened Abortion

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein that is synthesized by the fetal yolk sac early in gestation and later via the gastrointestinal tract and liver. It circolates in fetal serum and passes into fetal urine and amniotic fluid. Its concentration increases steadily in both fetal serum and amniotic fluid until 13 weeks, after which these levels decrease.In some of the fetal abnormalities alpha-fetoprotein levels increase. This study was done to survey threatened abortion. This study was cohort and the population under study included 100 women with vaginal bleeding in the first trimester and 100 women without any bleeding.AFP level was measured in the two groups at the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy. The data was analyzed with Spss-win software. This study showed that in the case group the AFP level was higher than that in the control group. Moreover, The AFP level at the 18th week of gestation in the case group was higher than in the test control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups. Serum AFP levels in patients who suffered from threatened abortion was more than normal control group. Which may indicate fetal anomaly.