TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased midtrimester amniotic fluid activin A
T2 - A risk factor for subsequent fetal death
AU - Petraglia, F.
AU - Gomez, R.
AU - Luisi, S.
AU - Florio, P.
AU - Tolosa, J. E.
AU - Stomati, M.
AU - Romero, R.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - 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. 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 χ2 tests and regression analysis. 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. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated concentration of activin A in amniotic fluid identifies women at risk of fetal death.
AB - 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. 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 χ2 tests and regression analysis. 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. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated concentration of activin A in amniotic fluid identifies women at risk of fetal death.
KW - Activin A
KW - Amniocentesis
KW - Amniotic fluid
KW - Corticotropin-releasing factor
KW - Fetal death
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70174-2
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70174-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 9914603
AN - SCOPUS:0033030118
SN - 0002-9378
VL - 180
SP - 194
EP - 197
JO - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
JF - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 1 I
ER -