HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BARTHA, J. L. Articles by ARRABAL, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BARTHA, J. L. Articles by ARRABAL, J.

Alpha-Fetoprotein and Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Amniotic Fluid

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Puerto Real, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.

Address reprint requests to: Jose Luis Bartha, MD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital of Puerto Real Carretera Nacional IV, Km 665 Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510 Spain E-mail: jbarthar{at}sego.es

Objective: To determine whether a relationship exists between alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hematopoietic growth factors in amniotic fluid.

Methods: Forty-one women at 15 weeks’ gestation were included in the study. Gestational age was assessed by obtaining a reliable menstrual history and scanning. Amniocentesis was performed, and each woman subsequently delivered anatomically and chromosomally normal infants. The level of AFP was determined using a standard automated procedure. The concentrations of stem cell factor, interleukin 3, interleukin 6, erythropoietin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were measured using a commercially available immunoassay. The relationships between AFP and the studied cytokines were evaluated using the Pearson linear correlation test. Significant correlations were studied further by linear and nonlinear regression to obtain the best predictive model.

Results: There was a significant correlation between AFP and stem cell factor (r = .47, P = .002). No significant correlations between AFP and the rest of the studied cytokines were found (r = -.07, r = .02, r = -.02, and r = -.11 for erythropoietin, G-CSF, interleukin 3, and interleukin 6, respectively).

Conclusion: Alpha-fetoprotein is significantly correlated with stem cell factor in early pregnancy and might play a role in fetal hematopoiesis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Underwood and M. P. Sherman Nutritional Characteristics of Amniotic Fluid NeoReviews, June 1, 2006; 7(6): e310 - e316. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. J. Mizejewski Biological Roles of Alpha-Fetoprotein During Pregnancy and Perinatal Development Experimental Biology and Medicine, June 1, 2004; 229(6): 439 - 463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]