Amniotic fluid embolism, anaphylaxis, and tryptase

Benson, Michael D. MD
Lindberg, Roger E. PhD

Highland Park, Chicago, and Abbott Park, Illinois
^aFrom the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Highland Park Hospital and Northwestern University, and Abbott Laboratories.^b

Reprint requests: Michael D. Benson, MD, 101 Bentley Ct., Deerfield, IL 60035.

See related Letter to the Editors and Reply on p. 749.

0002-9378/96 $5.00 + 06/1/74918

Received for publication May 13, 1996; accepted May 14, 1996

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 175(3):p 737, September 1996.

It has been recently suggested that amniotic fluid embolism is an anaphylactic reaction to fetal antigens. This hypothesis can be readily tested by obtaining serum tryptase levels within a few hours of the appearance of symptoms in affected patients. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:737.)