Serum alpha-fetoprotein in hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and twin pregnancy

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in patients with hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and twin pregnancy were studied by radioimmunoassay. Serum AFP was absent in seven of seven patients (100 per cent) with choriocarcinoma and 10 of 13 (76.9 per cent) with hydatidiform mole. However, low concentrations (below 8 ng. per milliliter) of AFP were detected in two patients (15.4 per cent) and 105 ng. per milliliter in one (7.7 per cent) with hydatidiform mole. In 10 of 14 patients (71.4 per cent) with twin pregnancy serum AFP levels were significantly above the normal range for single pregnancy and approximately twice as high as the average value in pregnancy. It was concluded from these findings that abnormal levels of serum AFP during pregnancy suggest the presence of various complications such as hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, or twin pregnancy and that the determination of serum AFP is valuable for prenatal diagnosis. The origin and significance of elevated AFP in patients with hydatidiform mole are now being investigated.