Delay of liver maturation as a cause of transient neonatal galactosemia.
BACKGROUND
Because a large amount of serum alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) is synthesized in the liver of the fetus or premature newborn, high concentrations or delayed degradation of serum alpha-FP during the neonatal period may reflect hepatic immaturity.


METHODS
In order to evaluate the relationship between transient neonatal galactosemia and delay of liver maturation, the concentration and half-life of serum alpha-FP during the neonatal period were measured in patients with transient galactosemia and in normal neonates.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in the serum concentration of alpha-FP between normal and galactosemic patients less than 1 month of age. However, the half-life of serum alpha-FP was significantly longer in galactosemic patients between 15 and 60 days of age compared with age-matched normal neonates.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, we hypothesize that delay of liver maturation during the neonatal period, especially during the first 2 months after birth, can be a cause of transient neonatal galactosemia.
Ono
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. onohiro@mcai.med.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Mawatari
H
H
Mizoguchi
N
N
Eguchi
T
T
Sakura
N
N
Hamakawa
M
M
D005690:Galactose / Q000097:blood; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development*; D008403:Mass Screening; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005690:Galactose