Alpha-fetoprotein - the so-called protein, which is produced in the digestive tract and the liver of an unborn child. Its functions include the transportation of nutrients from the mother to the fetus. By the way, it is this protein that protects the embryo from rejecting the immune system of the mother's body. Throughout the entire period of development of the baby, the concentration of AFP during pregnancy grows both in fetal blood and in the mother's blood. In the first month of pregnancy, alpha-fetoprotein is produced by the yellow body of the ovaries, and from 5 weeks and the rest of the gestation period this protein is produced by the fetus itself. The highest concentration of AFP in the blood is found on the period of 32-34 weeks, and then starts to decrease slowly.
Analysis of AFP during pregnancy, as a rule, take place on the 12-14 week of the term. This indicator is necessary for determining abnormalities of development of the baby at the chromosomal level, pathologies of the development of the nervous system, as well as defects in the formation and development of internal organs. Therefore, physicians carefully monitored the concentration of this protein in the serum of a pregnant woman.
AFP - the norm during pregnancy
The table below shows the AFP during pregnancy.
It should be noted that the AFP index in pregnancy, as well as in non-pregnant women and adult men, may have a tolerance, its value is from 0.5 to 2.5 MoM (median multiplicity). The deviation depends on the duration of pregnancy, as well as on the conditions of blood sampling.
AFP during pregnancy
An increased level of AFP during pregnancy can be a warning signal, in this case it is necessary to diagnose the following fetal diseases:
- necrosis of the liver, which occurs after an infectious disease of the mother;
- anomaly of the kidneys;
- umbilical hernia;
- anencephaly;
- spina bifida;
- malformations of the anterior abdominal wall;
- other malformations .
In addition, elevated AFP in pregnant women can occur with multiple pregnancies.
A low index of AFP during pregnancy can be detected in the following situations:
- trisomy 18;
- Down syndrome;
- bladder skidding ;
- delay in fetal development;
- hydrocephalus;
- imaginary pregnancy;
- spontaneous miscarriage;
- death of the fetus.
Sometimes a decreased AFP during pregnancy is a sign of incorrect timing.
AFP and triple test
Analysis of the blood AFP during pregnancy gives more reliable indicators if the diagnosis is carried out together with the research on ultrasound, the determination of the level of free estriol and placental hormones. The analysis for all listed indicators, as well as on AFP and hCG during pregnancy is called a "triple test".
Blood on AFP during pregnancy is usually taken from the vein. The analysis should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. If on the date of delivery of this analysis you still have a bite or, for example, have breakfast, then it should pass at least 4-6 hours after the last meal, otherwise the result will be unreliable.
In case of AFP analysis in pregnancy