alpha-fetoprotein (redirected from Alfa-fetoprotein)

α-fetoprotein /α-fe·to·pro·tein/ (fe″to-pro´tēn) alpha fetoprotein.

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alpha-fetoprotein

n. Abbr. AFP

An antigen produced in the fetal liver that can appear in certain diseases of adults, such as liver cancer, and whose level in amniotic fluid can be used to detect certain fetal abnormalities, including Down syndrome and spina bifida.

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Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

A substance produced by a fetus' liver that can be found in the amniotic fluid and in the mother's blood. Abnormally high levels of this substance suggests there may be defects in the fetal neural tube, a structure that will include the brain and spinal cord when completely developed. Abnormally low levels suggest the possibility of Down' syndrome.

Mentioned in: Amniocentesis, Liver Cancer, Pregnancy

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alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),

a protein that is normally synthesized by the liver, yolk sac, and GI tract of a human fetus, but may also be found at an elevated level in the sera of adults having certain malignancies. AFP measurements in amniotic fluid are used for the early diagnosis of fetal neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Elevated serum levels may be present in ataxia-telangiectasia syndrome, hereditary tyrosinemia, cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and viral hepatitis. Although not a specific genetic marker for malignancies, AFP may be used to monitor the effectiveness of surgical and chemotherapeutic management of hepatomas and germ cell neoplasms.

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alpha-fetoprotein

a plasma protein produced by the fetal liver, yolk sac and gastrointestinal tract and also by some cancers in humans. In animals it binds testosterone and estrogens in the blood and provides a reservoir for these hormones. Called also AFP. In humans the serum AFP level is used to monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment, and the amniotic fluid AFP level is used in the prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects.

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α-fetoprotein

alpha-fetoprotein.

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alpha-fetoprotein

Fetoglobulin Clinical chemistry A 70 kD glycoprotein, synthesized by the embryonic yolk sac, fetal GI tract and liver, which has 40% homology with albumin, which peaks at 13 wks of fetal age; AFP's role in fetal development is unclear; AFP levels are measured in pregnancy to screen for open neural tube defects–incidence, 1-2/1000 births and for Down syndrome, and in adults to detect liver cancer and germ cell tumors Ref range Non-pregnant adults < 30 ng/mL; maternal serum–13-16 wks, < 1.0-4.4 µg/dL; amniotic fluid–13-16 wks, 0.9-4.1 mg/dL AFP levels in fetal serum are 150-fold > amniotic fluid, which in turn are 200-fold > maternal serum; maternal serum levels are 300-400 µg/L in the 3^rd trimester; AFP levels in fetal serum and amniotic fluid peak at 13 wks, while the maternal levels peak at 30 wks; AFP in pregnancy is > in twins and higher multiple pregnancies; if the fetal neural tube fails to close completely, large quantities of AFP enter the amniotic fluid, resulting in ↑ levels in the mother's serum; confirmatory tests such as amniocentesis and/or ultrasonography are used to identify neural tube defects is elevated; after the immediate postnatal period, ↑ serum AFP levels occur only with conditions of abnormal cell multiplication; although AFP measurement is not FDA-approved for cancer screening, in practice, it is used to both detect and monitor therapy in liver cell cancer and germ cell tumors of gonadal, retroperitoneal, or mediastinal origin. See Liver cell carcinoma, Triple screen.