DENOMINATION

• Alfafetoglobulina,
• Fetal Alfaglobulina,
• Alpha 1-fetoproteína,
• AFP.

DEFINITION

The alfafetoproteína is a "protein" that takes place principally in the liver and in the sack vitelino of the fetus, which function is similar to the albumin in the born, and which rises rapidly after the birth. The alfafetoproteína is maximum in the first pregnancy trimester to be going down up to the birth.

The alfafetoproteína does not have a function defined in the adult and appears in residual levels.

WHY IS THE ANALYSIS REALIZED?

The alfafetoproteína measures herself to diagnose or to control the problems of the fetus or abnormalities in the same one. During the pregnancy this analysis is realized along with the amniocentesis to diagnose the possible appearance of forked thorn, or other defects of maturation of the marrow and spine.

Also in the adult it serves like detector or assessor of hepatic illnesses and certain types of cancer. It is realized to monitor the evolution of the hepatitis and other illnesses of the liver.

PROCEDURE OF SECURING

To realize this analysis to be on an empty stomach is not needed.

It is possible to realize the capture in an appropriate place (consultation, clinic, hospital) but sometimes it is realized in the proper domicile of the patient.

To realize the capture it is needed of locating an appropriate vein and in general there are used the veins placed in the flexura of the elbow. The person entrusted to take the sample will use sanitary gloves, a needle (with a syringe or pipe of extraction).

It will put a tortor (tape of gum - latex) in the arm so that the veins retain more blood and turn out to be more visible and accessible.

It will clean the area of the prick with an antiseptic one and by means of a palpación it will locate the appropriate vein and will gain access to her with the needle. They will release the tortor.

When the blood flows for the needle the sanitary one will realize an aspiration (by means of the syringe or by means of the application of a pipe with gap).

On having finished the capture, it extracts the needle to itself and the area is pressed with a cotton or similar torunda to favor the coagulation and it will indicate him to itself that flexione the arm and the area pressed with a Band-Aid supports for some hours.

The abstracted blood moves to the analysis laboratory in a special pipe for biochemistry, which contains an anticoagulant product. In general more than 10 milliliters of blood are not usually necessary for a standard battery of biochemical parameters.

PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE RISKS

1. The securing by means of a prick of the vein can produce certain pain.
2. The possible difficulty in finding the appropriate vein can give place to several pricks
3. Appearance of a haematoma (bruise or cardinal) in the extraction area, is due usually to the fact that the vein has not closed well after the later pressure and blood has kept on going out producing this problem. Type Hirudoid can apply an ointment to itself ® or Trombocid ® in the area.
4. Inflammation of the vein (phlebitis), sometimes the vein turns out to be shaken, well be for a cause merely physically or why it has become infected. It will have to support the relaxed area a few days and type Hirudoid can apply an ointment to itself ® or Trombocid ® in the area. If the problem persists or appears fever will have to consult it with his doctor.

Normal levels of AFP in adults and not pregnant women: less than 40 ngr/ml.

In these values there can be small differences for the skill or for proper criteria of normality of concrete laboratories, sometimes in the status of values and other times for the units to which one alludes.

EVALUATION OF ABNORMAL RESULTS

The developing AFP levels in the blood can indicate:

• Cancer of testicles, ovaries, biliary routes, stomach, or of pancreas
• Liver cancer
• Hepatic cirrhosis
• Evolved hepatitis

During the pregnancy the elevation of the AFP can indicate:

• Fetal alterations
• Anencefalia
• Forked thorn
• Multiple pregnancy
• Lacking in formation in the duodenum (atresia duodenal)
• Onfalocele
• Tetralogía of Fallot (congenital defect of the heart)
• Syndrome of Turner

During the pregnancy the decrease of the AFP can indicate:

Syndrome of Down

Fetal loss TO SEE ALSO

• Uric acid in Blood
• Albumin in Blood
• Biochemical analysis of Routine
• Bilirrubina
• Creatinina
• Alkaline Fosfatasa
• Gamma GT
• Glucose in Blood
• Transaminasa GOT
• Transaminasa GPT
• Urea in Blood

WHAT DOCTOR CAN TREAT ME?

Select a province A Coruna Alava Albacete Alicante Almeria Asturias Avila Badajoz Barcelona Burgos Caceres Cadiz Cantabria Castellón Ciudad Real Cordova Cuenca Gipúzcoa Girona Granada Guadalajara Huelva Huesca Illes Balears Jaen La Rioja Las Palmas León Lleida Lugo Madrid Malaga Murcia Navarre Ourense Palencia Pontevedra Salamanca Santa Cruz Tenerife Segovia Seville Soria Tarragona Teruel Toledo Valencia Valladolid Biscay Zamora Saragossa

Service offered for