Despite the documented ability of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels to predict serious neural tube defects, it is clearly impossible to suggest that all women undergo amnocentesis for this diagnosis. Maternal serum alphafetoprotein(MSAFP)
is
appreciated as an available and safe method for detection of neural tube defects and other chromosomal abberation such as Down syndrome even in second trimester. But MSAFP has wide normal range and low sensitivity and specificity, so there are
some
difficulties in making guidelines for prenatal MSAFP screening of genetic disorders.
The authors determined median value of MSAFP on each gestational weeks in total 1017 pregnancies and established the cut off value using 0.25, 0.4, 2.0, 2.5 multiples of median(MOM) for the purpose of determining the normal range in Korean
mother.
@ES The results were summarized as follows:
@EN 1) The level of MSAFP began to increase at 14 weeks of gestation, reached median value of 127 ng/ml at 20 weeks and got the maximal level of 220 ng/ml at 32 weeks, then decreased gradually to 104ng/ml at term pregnancy.
2) The cut off values were established using 0.25, 0.4, 2.0, 2.5 MOM on each gestational weeks of pregnancy.
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