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High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
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High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo

Published on: November 8, 2018

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in amniotic fluid, maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, and

C M Salafia1, G R DeVore, E Mainolfi

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Danbury Hospital, CT 06810.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Detectable intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in amniotic fluid during midtrimester pregnancy is linked to intrauterine growth retardation and elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein. Higher levels correlate with earlier delivery, suggesting a role in assessing prematurity risk.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Immunology
  • Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

  • Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a marker of chronic inflammation.
  • Its presence and role in amniotic fluid during pregnancy are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if ICAM-1 is present in midtrimester amniotic fluid.
  • To investigate if ICAM-1 levels increase with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP).
  • To assess the association between amniotic fluid ICAM-1 and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure ICAM-1 levels in 273 midtrimester amniotic fluid samples.
  • Samples were categorized based on MSAFP levels (normal vs. elevated) and fetal birth weight (IUGR vs. normal).

Main Results:

  • ICAM-1 was detectable in 38% of amniotic fluid samples, compared to only 6% in controls.
  • Detectable ICAM-1 was significantly more common in pregnancies with elevated MSAFP (59%) and IUGR (59%).
  • Elevated ICAM-1 levels correlated with shorter gestational age at delivery.

Conclusions:

  • Midtrimester amniotic fluid ICAM-1 is generally undetectable in normal pregnancies.
  • Detectable ICAM-1 is associated with IUGR and elevated MSAFP.
  • Amniotic fluid ICAM-1 may serve as a biomarker for assessing the risk of IUGR and prematurity.
Abstract

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