ORIGIN OF AMNIOCENTESIS‐INDUCED RISES OF ALPHA‐FETOPROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS IN MATERNAL SERUM

Abstract
An elevation of .alpha.-fetoprotein concentration in maternal serum occurred in 7 of 65 patients (11%) following amniocentesis. Analysis of the molecular heterogeneity of the .alpha.-fetoprotein by chromatography on concanavalin A-agarose indicated that the source of the .alpha.-fetoprotein was fetal serum in 3 patients and amniotic fluid in 4 patients.