Biochemical differences between amniotic fluid and maternal urine.

Transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the yolk sac and transvaginal amniocentesis were carried out on 94 women prior to first-trimester termination of pregnancy. Maternal serum and fluids from the amniotic cavity and extraembryonic coelom were analysed for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). No correlation was found between the yolk sac size and the levels of AFP in any of these sites.

Amniocentesis↗

PubMed1992

Fetal presentation of Morquio disease type A.

A fetus with mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A (Morquio type A) is described. The family had one affected child exhibiting symptoms of classical Morquio A disease, and late in the subsequent pregnancy prenatal diagnosis was requested. At 23 weeks' gestation, moderate ascites was detected by detailed ultrasound scan and keratan sulphate was found in the amniotic fluid. The pregnancy was terminated by prostaglandin induction and the diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A was confirmed by demonstration of a deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulphate (GalNac-6-S) sulphatase in cultured amniotic cells and in post-mortem fibroblast cultures. The activities of beta-galactosidase and arylsulphatase A were normal, ruling out Morquio disease type B and multiple sulphatase deficiency. These results indicate that mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (a disease that predominantly affects the skeletal system) may produce ascites in the fetus to such an extent that it can be detected by ultrasound.

Amniocentesis↗

PubMed1992

Mucolipidosis type IV: accumulation of phospholipids and gangliosides in cultured amniotic cells. A tool for prenatal diagnosis.

Cultured amniotic fluid cells from two mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV)-affected fetuses demonstrated accumulation of phospholipids and gangliosides when compared with normal controls. Like cultured skin fibroblasts from MLIV patients, cultured amniotic cells from the affected fetuses accumulated primarily lyso phospholipids and this could be demonstrated by radioactive labelling with appropriate precursors, either inorganic phosphate or oleic acid. Furthermore, like cultured skin fibroblasts, there was significant retention of exogenously supplied GD1A ganglioside in the affected amniotic cells. This storage was previously demonstrated to be unique to MLIV and thus can be used at present as a specific procedure for prenatal diagnosis of MLIV.

Amniocentesis↗