Routine prenatal screening policy of fetal malformations by both maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and ultrasound in eastern Hungary.

Since January 1979, at our Genetic Counselling Unit in Debrecen all pregnancies at high risk for any reason have been screened sequentially by serum alpha-fetoprotein estimation (at the 16th week) and by ultrasound examination (18th week). This screening policy covered 1200-1500 consultations per year. From July 1983, the same prenatal screening policy has been extended to cover the whole pregnant population of two large counties in Eastern Hungary. In a six-year period over 300 fetal malformations were diagnosed. Details of the screening policy and the main groups of malformations diagnosed prenatally are demonstrated.