Raised maternal serum-alpha-fetoprotein levels and spontaneous fetomaternal transfusion

Study of blood smears showed that spontaneous fetomaternal transfusions were significantly more common among 42 pregnant women with raised serum-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels than among 45 pregnant women with normal serum-AFP levels. Raised serum-AFP was associated with a spontaneous fetomaternal transfusion of greater than or equal to 0.1 ml in at least 21 of the 42 women in the study group.