A protein produced by the liver of the human fetus, which accumulates in the amniotic fluid. A high or low concentration is tested for by amniocentesis in the antenatal diagnosis of spina bifida or Down’s syndrome, respectively.
A protein produced in a fetus’s liver that is passed into the mother’s blood, where it can be sampled and tested, generally about 16 to 19 weeks into a pregnancy. Abnormally high AFP levels are often associated with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, and with other ailments, such as kidney problems; while low levels can be linked with Down’s syndrome, so testing is done where family history warrants it. But the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test (MSAFP) is only a general screen; abnormal AFP levels do not necessarily signal abnormalities but rather the advisability of more precise genetic screening procedures, such as amniocentesis and ultrasound. A high AFP level may also appear when a pregnant woman is carrying twins. The MSAFP test has been found some-what unreliable in dealing with low AFP levels.
Protein normally synthesized by a fetus. Determination of the AFP levels in amniotic fluid (through amniocentesis) or in the blood of pregnant women during a certain time in pregnancy can be used to detect the presence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly in the fetus. Elevated AFP levels in the serum of adults may indicate certain cancers and other diseases.
A protein formed in the liver of the fetus and present in the amniotic fluid in small amounts. In ‘anencephaly and ‘spina bifida the amount of AFP in the fluid is greatly increased in the first six months of pregnancy, and this can be detected by ‘amniocentesis. As there is a 1 in 20 chance of recurrence after one child with these defects and a 1 in 10 chance or higher after two affected babies, amniocentesis early in the second trimester of the next pregnancy is advisable, with a view to termination if the AFP level is abnormally high.
A protein produced in the gut and liver of the fetus. Abnormality in the fetus, such as neural tube defect, may result in raised levels of alphafeto protein in the maternal blood. In DOWN’Ss SYNDROME, levels may be abnormally low. In either case, screening of the pregnancy should be carried out, including AMNIOCENTESIS to check the amount of alpha-feto protein in the amniotic fluid. The protein may also be produced in some abnormal tissues in the adult —in patients with liver cancer, for example.
An antigen present in the human fetus and in certain pathological conditions in the adult. The maternal serum level should be evaluated at 15 to 22 weeks’ gestation. During pregnancy, elevated levels are associated with open neural tube defects, anencephaly, omphalocele, gastroschisis, and fetal death. Decreased levels may indicate an increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. If an abnormal level of AFP is found, further tests such as ultrasound or amniocentesis need to be done. Elevated serum levels of AFP are found in adults with certain hepatic carcinomas or chemical injuries. Test results also may be abnormal in persons with diabetes, multiple pregnancies, or obesity.
In the blood serum of the majority of individuals afflicted with primary liver cancer, an anomalous elevation of a specific protein is commonly observed.
A protein synthesized in the liver and gastrointestinal tract during fetal development, and in certain atypical tissues within adults.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is released into the amniotic fluid through the fetal urine. As the fetus swallows the amniotic fluid, AFP enters its digestive system. Although a significant portion of AFP is broken down within the fetal intestine, a portion of it enters the mother’s bloodstream. AFP levels can be measured in the maternal blood starting from the latter part of the first trimester of pregnancy. The concentration of AFP in the maternal blood typically increases between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.
Elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are linked to fetal neural tube defects like spina bifida or anencephaly, as well as specific kidney abnormalities. Additionally, high levels of AFP can be observed in cases of multiple pregnancies and in situations of threatened or actual miscarriage.
In cases where the fetus has Down’s syndrome, it is possible for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels to be abnormally low. This is why the measurement of AFP in maternal blood is included as part of the screening tests used to assess the heightened risk of Down’s syndrome in pregnant women.
In adults, elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are frequently observed in individuals diagnosed with hepatoma, cancerous teratoma of the testes or ovaries, as well as cancers affecting the pancreas, stomach, or lung. This is why AFP is referred to as a “tumor marker” since it serves as an indicator of these specific types of tumors.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels can be utilized to monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatments, as an increase in levels following chemotherapy or surgery may suggest cancer recurrence. However, it is important to note that elevated AFP levels can also be observed in certain noncancerous conditions such as viral and alcoholic hepatitis, as well as cirrhosis. Hence, AFP serves as an important biomarker for both cancer-related monitoring and the assessment of certain noncancerous conditions.