Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
- Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
- The presence of AFP, a plasma protein normally produced by the fetus, in the mother's blood. MSAFP serves as the basis for some valuable tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus's liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the yolk sac, a structure temporarily present during embryonic development. The level of AFP is typically high in the fetus's blood, goes down in the baby's blood after birth, and by a year of age is virtually undetectable. During pregnancy, AFP crosses the placenta from the fetal circulation and appears in the mother's blood. The level of AFP in the mother's blood (the maternal serum AFP) provides a screening test for a number of disorders including: {{}}Open neural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida); and Down syndrome (and other chromosome abnormalities). The maternal serum AFP (MSAFP) tends to be: {{}}High with open neural tube defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida (meningomyelocele); and Low with Down syndrome (trisomy 21, an extra chromosome number 21).
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2011.
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MSAFP (maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein) — The presence of AFP, a plasma protein normally produced by the fetus, in the mother s blood. The MSAFP serves as the basis for some valuable tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus s liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) … Medical dictionary
Alpha-fetoprotein — (AFP) is a molecule produced in the developing embryo and fetus. In humans, AFP levels decrease gradually after birth, reaching adult levels by 8 to 12 months. Normal adult AFP levels are low, but detectable; however, AFP has no known function in … Wikipedia
Serum — The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plasma, the liquid portion of normal unclotted blood containing the red and white cells and platelets. It is the clot that makes the difference between serum and plasma … Medical dictionary
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) — AFP is a plasma protein that is normally produced by the fetus. It serves as the basis for some useful tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus s liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the yolk sac, a structure… … Medical dictionary
MSAFP — maternal serum alpha fetoprotein … Medical dictionary
MSAFP — • maternal serum alpha fetoprotein … Dictionary of medical acronyms & abbreviations
AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) — AFP is a plasma protein that is normally produced by the fetus. It serves as the basis for some valuable tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus s liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the yolk sac, a structure … Medical dictionary
Fetoprotein, alpha- (AFP) — AFP is a plasma protein that is normally produced by the fetus. It serves as the basis for some valuable tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus s liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the yolk sac, a structure … Medical dictionary
Neural tube defect — Classification and external resources ICD 10 Q00, Q01, Q05 … Wikipedia
Spina bifida — Classification and external resources ICD 10 Q05, Q76.0 … Wikipedia
