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Biomedical subjects

M J Kitau

Publications and source records attributed to M J Kitau.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels as an index of fetal risk.

In a prospective study on an obstetric population (1,059 cases) an association was found between elevated levels of maternal serum AFP at weeks 16 to 22 and the occurrence of premature labor or the need for emergency cesarean section in the third trimester. There was no association with other late fetal complications including perinatal death, perinatal asphyxia, and intrauterine growth retardation. The sensitivity of the test in respect of premature labor was 14 per cent but the high incidence of false-positive results reduces the practical value of the test.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed1978

Fetal wastage as a result of an alpha-fetoprotein screening programme.

Amniocentesis was performed in 102 pregnancies in which maternal serum-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) concentrations were raised. 18 pregnancies were terminated. There were 15 neural-tube defects, 2 gastrointestinal abnormalities (1 of which could have been corrected by surgery), and 1 case of hydrocephaly. There was an association between raised maternal serum-A.F.P. and complications of late pregnancy including premature labour, perinatal death, and severe pre-eclampsia. After amniocentesis there was spontaneous abortion of 3 normal fetuses and 1 abnormal fetus.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1978

The significance of raised maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein in twin pregnancy.

A hundred twin pregnancies were examined before 27 weeks gestation. The level of maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was correlated with outcome of the pregnancy. Forty per cent of all women had elevated plasma AFP levels. At birth the combined infant weights were greater in the women with elevated AFP; the gestational age at delivery was unrelated to the level of AFP in early pregnancy.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1977

alpha-Fetoprotein levels in pregnancies complicated by gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus.

alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels have been measured in maternal serum and amniotic fluid in a variety of gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus. Maternal serum AFP levels were consistently elevated in abdominal wall defects of the fetus after 15 weeks gestation and the amniotic fluid levels were raised in 3 of the 4 patients measured. In atresia of the gastrointestinal tract and diaphragmatic hernia, serum AFP levels were usually normal unless there was an associated neural tube defect or multiple pregnancy, although the majority were not measured between 15 and 26 weeks gestation. If elevated amniotic fluid levels of AFP are used in the decision to terminate pregnancy on the assumption of a probable neural tube defect of the fetus, a proportion of terminations will be performed because of abdominal wall defects of the fetus.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1977

Screening for fetal neural tube defects by maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein determination.

A total of 5539 consecutive pregnant patients at three maternity units in the City and Hackney District of London were screened for fetal neural tube defect by measurement of maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Only 25-7% of women booked at 16 to 22 weeks, the optimum time for this screening test; 54-1% booked before 16 weeks and 20-2% after 22 weeks. Of the women tested before 23 weeks, 300 had elevated levels of AFP in plasma and 14 of them had fetuses with abnormalities known to cause a rise in AFP levels (12 fetuses had a neural tube defect and 2 had alimentary tract abnormalities). Of women examined before 23 weeks, half of those with twin pregnancies had elevated levels of plasma AFP as did 16-7% of those who ultimately had a spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1976

Tumour-associated immune responses and isolated carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha feto-protein levels related to survival in ovarian cancer patients.

The presence of a tumour-associated immune response in 37 patients with ovarian cancer as assessed by blastogenesis (lymphocyte transformation) evoked by ovarian cancer cell extracts, has been correlated with survival following the test. The difference in these responses is unlikely to be accounted for on the basis of general impairment of cell-mediated immuno-competence. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was also determined in 27 ovarian cancer patients to assess its prognostic significance. Raised CEA levels and absence of blastogenic response to tumour cell extract during relapse are associated with a worse prognosis but neither of these parameters are significant in remission. Possible applications of these findings to the clinical management of ovarian cancer patients are discussed. Serum alpha feto-protein levels measured by radioimmunoassay were not found to be raised in any of the 32 ovarian cancer patients in whom it was measured.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Amniotic fluid levels of fibrin(ogen) degradation fragment E and alpha-fetoprotein in normal pregnancy and with fetal neural tube defect.

Amniotic fluid levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and fibrin(ogen) degradation fragment E (FgE) were measured in 214 normal subjects and 27 pregnancies associated with an abnormal fetus (open neural tube defect or exomphalos). AFP levels showed no overlap between the normal and abnormal groups, thus confirming the reliability of the AFP assay in the detection of these abnormalities. FgE levels however showed considerable overlap and could not be used as a diagnostic parameter. Agarose gel chromatography of the amniotic fluid revealed the presence of large molecular weight FgE related antigen in open neural tube defect suggesting that leakage of proteins from exposed capillaries is responsible for the elevation of amniotic fluid protein levels.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1975

Levels of alpha-fetoprotein in maternal blood as a screening test for fetal neural-tube defect.

A range has been established for maternal plasma-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) levels in normal pregnancies (930 women). A.F.P. levels between 10 and 40 weeks gestation were examined in 51 pregnancies associated with fetal neural-tube defect. In 96% of cases (20 anencephalus, 6 spina bifida) examined between 16 and 26 weeks of gestation A.F.P. levels were above the 95th centile of the normal range. It is suggested that measurement of A.F.P. in maternal blood should become a screening test in all pregnancies, and a scheme for the futher investigation of patients with abnormal results is described.

Anencephaly↗
PubMed1975

Maternal plasma alphafetoprotein levels in the second half of normal pregnancy: relationship to fetal weight, and maternal age and parity.

A semi-automated radioimmunoassay for plasma alphafetoprotein has been developed, suitable for routine clinical use. Several hundred samples can be assayed in a working week, with results available within 24 hours. The use of extensive quality controls ensures that good precision is maintained both within and between assays. The range of plasma concentrations of alphafetoprotein in the second half of pregnancy has been established in 100 normal subjects. The levels rise progressively to reach a peak at 32 weeks, and thereafter fall until term. No relationship between circulating alphafetoprotein levels and birth weight was observed.

Adult↗