Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency in babies with prolonged jaundice.
Over a three-year-period, 310 babies with prolonged jaundice admitted to GHKL were studied, to determine the incidence of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency as a cause of the problem. Ninety-two babies (29.7%) were found to be alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient. The percentage incidence was found to be highest in Indians (33.3%), followed by Malays (31.9%) and Chinese (26.7%). There was a male preponderance with a M:F ratio of 1.6:1. Most of these babies presented at the hospital at the age of more than two weeks but less than one month. Apart from the problem of prolonged jaundice and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, 2 had associated bleeding problems, 11 associated infections and 3 respiratory problems. Two babies had clinical features of Down's syndrome, 2 had G6PD deficiency and 1 had congenital hypothyroidism. AST, ALT and ALPO4 were high in 20, 26 and 3 babies respectively.
Zakiah
I
I
Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zaini
A R
AR
Jamilah
B
B
Zawiah
A
A
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency