Prolonged elevation of alphafetoprotein and detectable acetylcholinesterase after death of an anomalous twin fetus

Judy A Streit; George D Penick; Roger A Williamson; Carl P Weiner; Jo Ann Benda

doi:10.1002/pd.1970090102

Back

Prolonged elevation of alphafetoprotein and detectable acetylcholinesterase after death of an anomalous twin fetus

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Prolonged elevation of alphafetoprotein and detectable acetylcholinesterase after death of an anomalous twin fetus

Judy A Streit, George D Penick, Roger A Williamson, Carl P Weiner and Jo Ann Benda

Prenatal diagnosis, Vol.9(1), pp.1-6

01/1989

DOI: 10.1002/pd.1970090102

PMID: 2473466

View Online

Abstract

Persistence of elevated alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels and the presence of an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) band in amniotic fluid have been reported to occur up to 11 weeks following intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) of one twin (Bass et al., 1986). We now report a case where such prolongation of these findings was observed in a case of unrecognized monochorionic, monoamniotic twinning, in which case cord entanglement resulted in IUFD at an estimated 10-12 weeks and 25-26 weeks. The fetus suffering early demise (Fetus B) had multiple congenital anomalies, including a neural tube defect. The presence of this defect and/or fetal demise and bleeding into the amniotic sac is entertained as continuing sources of documented elevated AChE and AFP 9-11 weeks after the initial fetal death. We re-emphasize the possibility of unrecognized twinning as a cause of abnormal maternal serum and amniotic fluid study results in the face of one apparently normal fetus.

Alphafetoprotein

Multiple pregnancy

Acetylcholinesterase

Neural tube defect

Fetal demise

Details

Title: Subtitle: Prolonged elevation of alphafetoprotein and detectable acetylcholinesterase after death of an anomalous twin fetus
Creators: Judy A Streit - Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics/Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa, U.S.A
George D Penick - Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics/Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa, U.S.A
Roger A Williamson - Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics/Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa, U.S.A
Carl P Weiner - Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics/Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa, U.S.A
Jo Ann Benda - Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics/Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa, U.S.A
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Prenatal diagnosis, Vol.9(1), pp.1-6
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
DOI: 10.1002/pd.1970090102
PMID: 2473466
ISSN: 0197-3851
eISSN: 1097-0223
Number of pages: 6
Language: English
Date published: 01/1989
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Pathology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984094651502771

Metrics

23 Record Views

8 Times Cited - Web of Science