Questionable AFP results, anyone???

So I had the Ultrascreen at 12w, and the results from the blood and ultrasound came back as very low= my risk for downs was 1/1584.

I had my 16w appt this Mon and had the AFP test done. My Dr called me this afternoon saying now my risk for Down's had shot up to 1/160.

Now we're not sure if we should do the amniocentisis? On one hand I would just like to know either way, and I don't think I could go through the rest of the pregnancy not knowing. But on the other I would not terminate this pregnancy either way....

I know this is just a risk analysis and nothing is certain, but has something similar happened to any of you ladies?

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

It really is a personal decision. An amnio has about a 3% risk. I was given the opportunity to get an amino for a different reason but my DH and I opted not too. If you feel strongly that you need to know, then get it done, but definitely think about it, b/c there are some risks involved with the amnio.

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

It happened to one of my coworkers. She ended up going for an amnio, and her son does not have Down syndrome.

ETA: She did regret having an amnio because of the risk.

Message edited 4/15/2009 5:07:32 PM.

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

This happened to us. I just turned 38 this week and my DD is 10 weeks old.

My NT resutls were 1/870 and my AFP came back 1/90.

Before making the decision to have an Amnio (we were dead set against it), we bumped my Level II up to 18 weeks from 20 weeks and were going to make the decision to have an Amnio based on those results. Well, our Level II they saw 3 soft markers for Down Syndrome, so we opted to have an Amnio done the next day.

Having an Amnio does not mean someone is going to terminate based on the findings. We never had any intention of termination, but wanted to be prepared and find the best possible doctors we would need should our DD had Down Syndrome.

She is perfectly healthy BTW!

FM me if you have any questions.

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

Even at 1:160 you have less then a 1% chance of the baby having Down Syndrome. If you won't terminate anyway I would skip the amnio. They can check for markers on your level II. The test is just a screening. And if you didn't have it in the same lab it can hold an 11% false + rate. If there are no markers then you should be in the clear. If there are markers then you can go from there. Good luck

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

I had similar results (ultrascreen 1:10,000, AFP 1:160) and opted not to have the amnio...my doctors actually did not recommend it or even suggest it. I brought it up and was given the option if I chose to do so, but we decided to have a Level 2 ultrasound at the hospital at 20 weeks to look for any markers and have the Quadscreen testing done as well...the Quadscreen and Level 2 came back good (one soft marker for down syndrome) so we didn't pursue the amnio any further...

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

Thank you everyone, my Dr said that the risks to having amnio's is so low. He said they perform them alot in his office. He made it seem like a relatively common procedure w/ few risks like, infection, bleeding or m/c.

But even if it's low I feel like there's still a chance for something to happen. We definitely wouldn't terminate but I feel like ever since I got that call my head is spinning from the uncertainty of it all.

I'm not scheduled for my Level II until May 15th, and I don't know if I can hold out that long to find out if there are any markers

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

We had a much higher risk based on my age, but in the end opted against the amnio for a few reasons:
We were not going to terminate
In regards to Drs., if the baby does have DS there is plenty of time to find a Dr.
There were no markers at all during the 18 and 21 week sonograms.
We are having a fetal echo done to check for heart issues.
I was just not comfortable with the risk factor....I have a history of issues to start with and didn't want to take the chance of adding something else.

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

im actually skipping the AFP because of the low #'s i got from the NT scan. my trisomy 18 and 13 tests came back at 1:10,000 but for some reason my downs #'s came back at 1:288 with 1:290 being "normal". he said the baby's NT measured in a 1mm and the ultrasound itself was fine...even the tech said so while she was doing it. but i was so stressed from those results that ive opted to not continue on with any optional screenings. i am just going to wait for our level 2 to see if theres anything to be concerned about. when the dr called to give me the ultrascreen results he said he wasnt concerned and that i shouldnt be either, but still as a first time mom its very unsettling to hear. so since we wouldnt do anything either way, i decided i cant spend the next 5+ months freaked out and stressing.

Re: Questionable AFP results, anyone???

Thanks for all the feedback, I went to the library to do some more research last night. I found that even with the Level II, the results are still risk assessments, many women have recieved false positives...ie they found Down's markers during the Level II and had perfectly normal babies.

I guess this is just all part of opting to do the screenings, they are just a risk assessment, nothing positive. The only diagnostic test is the amnio. I feel like the screens aren't really worth all this stress and anxiety.