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Increased midtrimester amniotic fluid activin A: a risk factor for subsequent fetal death.
Increased midtrimester amniotic fluid activin A: a risk factor for subsequent fetal death.
- Source :
-
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology [Am J Obstet Gynecol] 1999 Jan; Vol. 180 (1 Pt 1), pp. 194-7. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether concentrations of activin A and corticotropin-releasing factor in amniotic fluid can identify patients at risk of fetal death.<br />Study Design: A retrospective case-control study of women who have had a midtrimester amniocentesis was designed. Case subjects consisted of patients who had a spontaneous fetal death after the procedure, whereas the control group consisted of patients who had a normal pregnancy outcome after midtrimester amniocentesis. Dimeric activin A was measured by a specific 2-site enzyme immunoassay, and corticotropin-releasing factor was measured by a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay after acidic extraction. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and chi2 tests and regression analysis.<br />Results: First, activin A was detectable in all amniotic fluid samples. Second, the concentration of activin A in amniotic fluid increased with advancing gestational age. Third, patients who subsequently had a fetal death had a higher median concentration of activin A than those with a normal pregnancy outcome (P <.01). Fourth, an amniotic fluid concentration of activin A greater than the 95th confidence interval for gestational age was found in 40% of patients who subsequently had a fetal death (odds ratio: 21.6; P <.005). Finally, the median concentration of corticotropin-releasing factor in amniotic fluid was not different in case subjects and control subjects.<br />Conclusions: An elevated concentration of activin A in amniotic fluid identifies women at risk of fetal death.
- Subjects :
- Activins
Case-Control Studies
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone metabolism
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Osmolar Concentration
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnancy Trimester, Second metabolism
Reference Values
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Amniotic Fluid metabolism
Fetal Death metabolism
Inhibins metabolism
Pregnancy metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9378
- Volume :
- 180
- Issue :
- 1 Pt 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9914603
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(99)70174-2