The role of umbilical cord alpha fetoprotein as a screening tool for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Our aim was to test whether alpha fetoprotein (AFP) might serve as a marker of hepatic immaturity sufficient to predict an increased risk for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) in term babies. We checked umbilical cord AFP (UC AFP) levels in 174 healthy full-term infants (male/female ratio 1.26:1) at birth. Bilirubin levels were measured upon discharge from the nursery on day 3 of life (mean, 57 +/- 10 hours of life). Mean UC AFP was 60.2 +/- 45.9 mg/L. UC AFP levels were linearly correlated with subsequent bilirubin levels, and significantly higher bilirubin levels were found in neonates whose UC AFP levels were 100 mg/L or more. Although statistically significant correlation between UC AFP and subsequent NHB exists, UC AFP cannot currently be recommended for use in clinical practice because of its inability to serve as a screening tool for significant NHB in the individual newborn.
Riskin
A
A
Department of Neonatology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
David
M
M
Peskin
B
B
Tamir
A
A
Vafsi
O
O
Leibovitz
Z
Z
Riskin-Mashiah
S
S
Israel
N
N
Merksamer
R
R
Bader
D
D
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins