Fetal sex-related differences in maternal serum α-fetoprotein during the second trimester of pregnancy

S. G. Sowers, R. L. Reish, B. K. Burton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

In an analysis of data gathered from routine maternal serum α-fetoprotein screening, we determined that the sex of the fetus is significantly correlated with differences in maternal serum α-fetoprotein concentration during the second trimester of pregnancy. Between the fifteenth and nineteenth gestational weeks, the mean maternal serum α-fetoprotein level is significantly higher to the male fetus than for the female fetus. There was no difference, however, in the rate of increase in maternal serum α-fetoprotein concentration with time between male and female fetuses during the weeks of gestation that were studied. No apparent cause for these observations has been demonstrated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)786-789
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume146
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fetal sex-related differences in maternal serum α-fetoprotein during the second trimester of pregnancy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this