-Fetoprotein Values and Neonatal Jaundice
1 From the Departments of Pediatrics (Neonatal Unit) and Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Umbilical cord plasma
-fetoprotein (AFP) values were determined in 127 infants with hyperbilirubinemia (56 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficient and 71 G-6-PD normal) and 136 control subjects (73 G-6-PD deficient and 63 G-6-PD normal). The mean
-fetoprotein value of 173 ± 35.2 (SD) mg/L for the group of infants with hyperbilirubinemia was significantly greater than that (122 ± 21.7 mg/L) for the control infants (P < .001). G-6-PD status and sex did not significantly affect the
-fetoprotein values. Using an
-fetoprotein level of 130 mg/L as a "cut-off" value, the incidence of false-positive results was 25.5% and the incidence of false-negative results was 11.8%. This test can be used as a screening procedure to detect infants at high risk for hyperbilirubinemia.
Key Words: neonatal jaundice
-fetoprotein
Submitted on August 23, 1983
Accepted on February 14, 1984