Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2001 Feb;44(2):277-282.

Clinical Association of Unexplained Elevated Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein with Adverse Outcomes in Pregnancies Complicated by Placenta Previa

• Cho HG
• Oh YJ
• Lee JH
• Chang WS
• Lee KW
• Han JS
• Kim SD
• Lee SJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether unexplained elevation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein(MSAFP) is associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancies complicated by placenta previa.
METHODS
One hundred and five pregnant women with placenta previa between January 1995 and March 1999 were included in this study. They underwent the triple test at 14 to 22 gestational weeks. These 105 pregnant women were stratified into two groups by MSAFP at 2.0MOM. The outcomes of pregnancy in high MSAFP(>or=2.0MOM) group were compared with those in normal MSAFP(RESULTS
1. The incidence of placenta previa was 1.8 % (120/6752) 2. Six hundred and twenty one out of 6752 pregnant women showed high MSAFP(>or=2.0 MOM). Eleven out of 632 pregnant women with high MSAFP were having placenta previa. 3. The incidence of preterm birth was significantly high in high MSAFP group with placenta previa.(p<0.001) 4. Women with unexplained elevated MSAFP and having placenta previa showed the increased risk for preterm delivery (p<0.05), preeclamsa (p<0.001), and bleeding in third trimester (p<0.001), but not placenta accreta, placenta abruption, cesarean hysterctomy and intrauterine fetal death.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that unexplained elevated levels of midtrimester MSAFP in complicated placenta previa were associated with the elevated risk of preterm delivery, preeclamsia and bleeding in the early third trimester, but not placenta accreta, placenta abruption, cearean hysterectomy and intrauterine fetal death.

Keyword

Placenta previa; Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein; Adverse outcomes

MeSH Terms

alpha-Fetoproteins*
Female
Fetal Death
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hysterectomy
Incidence
Placenta Accreta
Placenta Previa*
Placenta*
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Premature Birth
alpha-Fetoproteins