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Am J Perinatol 2004; 21(2): 93-98
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820518
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA

The Role of Umbilical Cord Alpha Fetoprotein as a Screening Tool for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

A. Riskin1 , 5 , M. David2 , 5 , B. Peskin1 , 5 , A. Tamir3 , 5 , O. Vafsi1 , 5 , Z. Leibovitz4 , 5 , S. Riskin-Mashiah4 , 5 , N. Israel2 , 5 , R. Merksamer2 , 5 , D. Bader1 , 5
  • 1Department of Neonatology, Haifa, Israel
  • 2Department of Genetical Biochemistry Laboratory in S. Winter Institute of Human Genetics, Haifa, Israel
  • 3Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Lady Davis Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel
  • 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
  • 5The B. Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Publication Date:
11 March 2004 (online)

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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.

KEYWORDS

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia - alpha fetoprotein - umbilical cord

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Arieh RiskinM.D. 

Department of Neonatology, Bnai-Zion Medical Center

47 Golomb Street, P.O.B. 4940

Haifa 31048, Israel