Alphafetoprotein pronounced (AL-FA-FEE-TO-PRO-TEEN) is a natural substance, a protein that is made by the baby and can be detected in amniotic fluid and the mother's blood serum. Elevated levels of AFP in amniotic fluid are associated with neural tube defects and some other rare abnormalities. The analysis of the levels of AFP in the mother's blood in the 15th - 17th weeks of pregnancy is an important prenatal test to check for abnormalities in the baby.
There are several possible explanations and causes for a higher than normal level of AFP. The more common explanations are:
 |
Inaccurate pregnancy dating: The baby makes more AFP as it grows bigger. The level measured in the mother’s blood depends on the age of the baby. If your pregnancy was more advanced than was thought when your test was done, the level of AFP would be higher than expected. |
|
Twin pregnancy: If there is more than one baby. Each one produces AFP, and because of this, the level of AFP in the mother’s blood will be higher. |
|
Normal variation: AFP can vary, there is a range of levels, from high to low, as a matter of "individual differences". What is considered to be an "elevated AFP" level in some woman may be normal in others. |
|
Other pregnancy complications: The AFP level may be elevated in women who have had bleeding in the pregnancy, and in pregnancies which are not progressing normally. There are other, less common, complications which may be associated with an elevated AFP as well. |
|
The baby may have a birth defect : an elevated AFP level may be an indication that the unborn baby has an abnormality | |
