Fetal protein loss in gastroschisis as an explanation of associated morbidity

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2001-05, Vol.184 (6), p.1297-1301
• Main Authors: Carroll, Stephen G.M., Kuo, Ping-Yi, Kyle, Phillipa M., Soothill, Peter W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Fetoproteins - analysis; Amniotic Fluid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Blood Proteins - analysis; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Fetal Blood; Fetal Death; fetal protein loss; Fetus - anatomy & histology; Fetus - metabolism; Gastroschisis; Gastroschisis - embryology; Gastroschisis - pathology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hernia, Umbilical - embryology; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Medical sciences; Osmolar Concentration; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Protein Deficiency - embryology; Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1067/mob.[phone]

Objective: Our purpose was to examine whether protein deficiency in utero develops in fetuses with gastroschisis. Study Design: Twelve infants with prenatally diagnosed gastroschisis were compared with 29 control infants without gastroschisis and 2 infants with exomphalos who were delivered between 35 and 42 weeks of gestation. The groups were compared for birth weight, cord serum total protein and amniotic fluid total protein, and α-fetoprotein concentrations. The amniotic fluid samples were collected when the amniotic membranes were ruptured either during cesarean delivery or at artificial rupture of the membranes, and umbilical cord blood was obtained after delivery. Results: In the 10 cases of gastroschisis in which cord serum total protein was measured, the median concentration was 51 g/L (range, 43-61 g/L) and was significantly lower than the median level of 62 g/L (range, 47-78 g/L) in the control group (P