The influence of oral contraceptives, nicotine, analgesics, thyroid hormones as well as the age of pregnant women, parity and later birth weight on the concentration of maternal serum AFP was examined in 200 patients to check the reliability of AFP determinations in serum of pregnant women. There were correlations only with nicotine consumption. The results confirmed an insignificant influence of these factors on maternal serum AFP and underlined the reliability and stability of this prenatal screening method.
PIP: The influence of oral contraceptives, nicotine, analgesics, and thyroid hormones, as well as the age of pregnant women, their parity, and babies birthweights on the concentration of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was examined in 200 patients in order to determine the reliability of AFP determinations in the serum of pregnant women. There were correlations only with nicotine consumption. The results confirmed that there was an insignificant influence of these factors on maternal serum AFP and underlined the reliability and stability of this prenatal screening technique. (author's modified)