False positive w/AFP screen??

[natalie910]

Hi everyone,
Just looking for advice or if anyone has any experience with this. As many of you know, I had a m/c at 16w. I was given the AFP screen 2 days before my regular appt. To make a long story short, the numbers were low for the afp which could mean a POSSIBLE genetic or chromosomal problem, trisomy 18. But, at the time I had the screen done, my baby had lost life for almost 2 weeks Ijust didn't know it yet. Would that have any affect on the test? If my baby was not alive and not producing afp then would the test be accurate? My dr is having a sample of the placenta tested /examined just to make sure my DH nor I are carriers of a genetic abnormality. I've had 3 healthy children, we wanted one more but obviously are going to wait for the results as my doc suggested.
If anyone has any knowledge or experience, I would appreciate it. I have to wait 2-4 more weeks for the result.
Thanks

[natalie910]

mikaleen-they did check my HCG levels throughout my pregnancy and they were always right on target. I guess that is what is so frustrating, to had gotten past the first trimester, with all good numbers and a great heartbeat. I don't know if I will ever get the answers I want but I just would like to know if there is something wrong with me and what the chances are of this happening again. My dr is of no help and she really just tried to rush through the appointment. Now I am looking for another ob/gyn :(

[mikaleen]

It sounds like what you are thinking would be probable, that if the fetus had passed the afp wasn't being produced by the fetus anymore, so the levels would come back low.  From what I have read in the past, I believe the risk only increases 1% of ever having this occur again.  It also causes lower HCG levels along with the AFP.  Did they follow your HCG levels for any reason?  I am sorry for your loss, and I hope that you have a healthy pregnancy soon.

[LadyM84]

hi natalie its me again x hope you are ok x i did a pg test when  i was about 6 weeks pg i used the new clear blue digital 1 that tells you how far gone you are , when i did it it said i was 2-3 weeks but like i said i was 6 weeks or so i thought i was my only guess is that the baby stopped developing at so my lvls wasnt as high as they should have been , thats why it said i was only 2-3 weeks i miscarried at 7 weeks , good luck i hope its all good news from the dr . keep in touch x

[queenspade]

I sent you a message.  :)

[natalie910]

To queenspade, I'm so glad you responded I actually had looked up trisomy 18 and saw you had posted but I couldn't find you again. Did your doctor tell you you could ttc again? Is it a genetic problem that can happen again or is it a fluke chance?
Like you we've had 3 healthy babies and then this m/c. My afp was low but our baby had been gone for 2 weeks when I was tested, I'm just wondering if that could have caused the test to be inaccurate.
I know what you mean about researching, I've been looking up everything and my DH says just to wait for the results but it is hard to just wait.
Thanks in advance for any info you have.
Natalie

[queenspade]

my baby was diagnosed with trisomy 18 and i was told it was a chromosomal defect that happens at conception.  My afp results tested positive on 12/05/2008 and sometime between then and the 15th my baby passed.  I also have had 3 healthy children and NO problems with their pregnancies.

[natalie910]

No we've never had any genetic testing done and I've never had any problems with any of the other pregnancies.
My dr seems to think it may be a false positive due to the fact that the test was taken several weeks after the baby had passed away, at the time I didn't know the baby had passed.
I would be shocked if there was some genetic problem since we've had the 3 kids, it could happen though.
Does anyone know if trisomy 18 is a chromosomal defect or is it genetic or both, I'm clueless.

[ArmyPrincess819]

I have no idea. Did your dr ever do genetic testing with your other kiids? My old ob used to do a routine check for cystic fibrosis etc. I wish you the best. I hope someone on here has some knowledge or maybe know someone who does. Good luck.
AP

Ps How are you doing?