Neurone Specific Enolase in Amniotic Fluid: A Potential Marker of Anencephaly

Normal values for neurone specific enolase in amniotic fluid have been found to follow a non gaussian distribution with a 1–99 centile range of 1·10–4·32 μg/L. Neurone specific enolase levels have been shown to be raised in the amniotic fluid of pregnancies complicated by anencephaly, although not those complicated by open spina bifida. Neurone specific enolase measured by radioimmunoassay is capable of totally discriminating between normal pregnancies and those complicated by anencephaly. The study demonstrates the possible value of investigating other neuronal proteins which may find value as adjuncts to amniotic fluid Alpha fetoprotein levels in the prenatal diagnosis of Neural Tube Defects.

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Concanavalin A binding of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid as an aid in the diagnosis of neural tube defects.

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/27.10.1658 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 1658-1660 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

P K Buamah ◽

P Taylor ◽

A M Ward

Keyword(s):

Spina Bifida ◽

Amniotic Fluid ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Concanavalin A ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Alpha Fetoprotein ◽

Normal Outcome ◽

Fetal Malformations ◽

Open Spina Bifida

Abstract Concanavalin A nonreactive alpha-fetoprotein was determined in samples of amniotic fluid from 16 abnormal pregnancies complicated by anencephaly (7), open spina bifida (6), intra-uterine death (1), anencephaly with exomphalos (1), or open spina bifida with exomphalos (1), and in amniotic fluid from 50 normal pregnancies with gestational age between 13 and 24 weeks. In all 16 cases with fetal malformations, the proportion of nonreactive alpha-fetoprotein was significantly decreased (median 5.3%) as compared with amniotic fluid from pregnancies with a normal outcome (median 39.7%). The results confirm that this measurement is useful in the diagnosis of neural tube defects, especially when the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid is normal or only slightly above normal and gestational age is uncertain.

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Prenatal Diagnosis and Patient Preferences in Patients with Neural Tube Defects around the Advent of Fetal Surgery in Belgium and Holland

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy ◽

10.1159/000365214 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 226-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Céline Ovaere ◽

Alex Eggink ◽

Jute Richter ◽

Titia E. Cohen-Overbeek ◽

Frank Van Calenbergh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Spina Bifida ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Fetal Surgery ◽

Training Material ◽

Spinal Lesions ◽

Spina Bifida Aperta ◽

Prenatal Management ◽

Open Spina Bifida

Introduction: We review the characteristics and prenatal choices of patients recently evaluated for neural tube defects (NTD) at two tertiary units. The prenatal diagnosis of NTD allows parents to consider all prenatal options. In selected cases of spina bifida aperta this also includes fetal surgery, which we started offering after combined ‘in-house' and ‘exported' training. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on NTD diagnosed over the last 8 years and recent fetal surgery referrals. Results: A total of 167 patients were referred for assessment at a median of 19 weeks. Cranial lesions were diagnosed significantly earlier than spinal lesions. Of the open spinal lesions, 77% were isolated. Of these, 22% were managed expectantly and 1 (1%) had fetal surgery. There was no correlation between parental decisions on prenatal management with disease-specific severity markers. We had 14 fetal surgery referrals, all but 1 from beyond our typical referral area; 6 of the assessed patients were operated on, 4 were expectantly managed and 4 requested termination of pregnancy (TOP). These pregnancy outcomes were in the expected range. Discussion: Open spina bifida is mainly diagnosed in the second trimester and 76% of subjects request TOP, irrespective of the severity indicators. The number of local patients considering fetal surgery is low.

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