AFP levels elevated...2.68

mbd1816

I just got a call yesterday that my first screen test came back with an elevated AFP of 2.68 (not sure what that measurement really entails). I had to go back in for a second blood draw and screen. We wont know the results until sometime this coming week. I started looking online and cannot help but freak out about the potential for an open neural tube defect. ( I know there are other reasons you get an elevated result, but I still look at the worst case scenario).

Any idea what sort of scale this test is riding on... is 2.68 high or low or medium or what?

 

Jcrab

I can't answer your question but do know if they have your dates off (like you weren't sure when you conceived or didn't have an early ultrasound to confirm) that it can throw your levels off. Try not to worry until you have more information. GL!

oooamaliusooo

Hi, Do not worry. Mine were 3.45 and my dr told me I was a high risk for spinal bifida. When we went to the fetal specialist the doctor told us spinal bifida is usually in the 7's for the AFP levels. She said it can be 3 things; possibly something wrong with the baby, which they did a detailed ultra sound and measurements and everything looks great, something possibly wrong with me, a prediction in a way that maybe I will have high blood pressure, or nothing at all and it is just some fluke. As the above poster said, If they have something off it can mess ur whole test up. They will probably send u to the specialist just to check, but I am sure all is well! Also my dr said be careful when looking up AFP levels as some search results bring up cancer, and that's not our issue at all!

margaret_howell

That is almost exactly what my levels were. We had our genetics counseling last week and this is what was explained to us: 1 is normal so 2 just means the baby has twice the amount of AFP that it's supposed to. I would say that it is low.
We had our ultrasound and the Dr. said the brain and spine look good, so we still don't know why the levels were elevated but it is not anything serious. I also had the blood test for chromosomal disorders so we know it's not that.

@oooamaliusooo, I wish our Dr. told us that the levels had to be in the 7's to be spina bifida.

Ladiebug710

AFP is reported as multiples of the median, so you want to be one.  2.6 is 2.6 times the average amount.  The screen doesnt even flag as abnormal until you hit 2.5 so you are just above that.  It really just means you need a level two ultrasound to closely examine baby.  It is extrememly rare to miss neural tube defects on sono.  Also I'm not sure what race you are, but African americans have higher average AFP so it isnt even abnormal until 2.8.

Big hug, I know this is stressful.  FX that all is well.

MetsGirl18

Mine came back 2.54 for spina bifida.  The cutoff is 2 although my perinatologist said the normal cutoff at some places is 2.5.  My OB wasn't concerned and said usually when the baby has spina bifida, the numbers are in the 7-9 range.  I had a Level II and everything looked great.  I will be monitored closely for potential growth issues later in the pregnancy since the elevated level could be an indication of growth/placenta issues.  I'm trying to stay positive and not think about the what ifs.

pixieprincss

With DS, mine was 2.84 which was a 1:160 chance of a neural tube defect--so pretty low (though it didn't feel that way at the time).The most common reason for high AFP is that the PG is farther along that you may have thought. That was not the case for us. We did IUI, so the dating was spot on. We did a retest that that also came back high.

We had been through so much to concieve a baby that would actually stick, so we were very consumed by this news and decided that we wanted to talk to a genetic counselor. They offered us an amnio, but because of the risk of loss with an amnio , we decided to wait until after our level-2 US (anatomy scan) to make any decisions. An amnio is something like 97% accurate whereas a L2 U/s is something like 94% accurate.

After a normal level 2 u/s three weeks later, our risk factor changed to 1:1600. LO was born perfectly healthy. 

I remember how brutal the period of uncertainty until the L2-ultrasound was for me, so I don't want to diminish any emotions you may be feeling, but do know that this has a much better chance of being OK than not. Most babies with abnormal AFP results will be perfectly fine. If you can stay chill about this, that has the best benefit for your baby. Healthy, relaxed mama is a good thing!

P.S. There seems to be some evidence that in healthy pregnancies, slightly abonromal AFP (like what you and I had)  may just give a clue to the sex of the baby. Low AFP may =girl and high AFP may =boy.

mbd1816

I just got the results of the second blood test... and I am cleared as back to normal #s.. (she said I am within the 1.65 range now) and I do not need further follow up. Im so relieved at this point. Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement and shared stories. I guess the false positive thing really does happen and according to the nurse on the phone, it happens often.

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