AFP
Definition
Noun 1. Alpha-fetoprotein: A protein produced by the liver and yolk sac of a developing fetus. Abnormally high or low levels detected during pregnancy can be associated with certain birth defects or genetic conditions.
Usage
- Medical Screening: The primary use of "AFP" is in the context of prenatal screening tests.
- The doctor reviewed the results of her blood test, which included the AFP level.
- An elevated AFP reading may prompt further diagnostic testing.
- Clinical Context: It is used when discussing fetal development, potential abnormalities, or diagnostic medicine.
- The AFP test is part of a standard second-trimester screening panel.
Advanced Usage
- Tumor Marker: In oncology, AFP can also serve as a tumor marker for certain cancers in adults, particularly liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) or germ cell tumors.
- After the diagnosis, the oncologist monitored his AFP levels to track the tumor's response to treatment.
Variants and Related Words
- Alpha-fetoprotein: The full, unabbreviated form of "AFP."
- Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP): The specific test that measures AFP in a pregnant person's blood.
- hCG, Estriol, Inhibin A: Other biomarkers often measured alongside AFP in a prenatal quad screen.
Synonyms
- Fetoprotein (less common, more general)
- α-fetoprotein (alternative scientific notation)
Related Phrases
- AFP test / AFP screening: The specific medical procedure.
- She decided to undergo AFP screening to gain more information about the pregnancy.
- AFP level: Refers to the quantitative measurement.
- The AFP level was within the normal range.
- Abnormal AFP / Elevated AFP / Low AFP: Descriptors for test results outside the expected range.
- The couple consulted a genetic counselor after receiving a result indicating elevated AFP.
Noun
-
an abnormally large amount of this fetoprotein in the fetus can signal an abnormality of the neural tube (as spina bifida or anencephaly)
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