Serum Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) and Bilirubin Levels in Neonatal Hyperbilirubinnemia (ICTER)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Neonatal jaundice as a result of bilirubin accumulation is one of the diseases that affect infants during the first days of life. AFP (alphafeto protein) with many physiologic roles is made in liver and yolk sac of fetus; it increases during pregnancy and decreases rapidly after delivery. This study conducted about the serum bilirubin (Bi) and AFP correlation in patients with hyperbilirubinemia in neonatal period. Materials and Methods: One hundred normal and healthy neonates with icter and hyperbilirubinemia enrolled in this study, all were under 28 day's age, and had only exaggerated physiologic jaundice. Septicemia and any other pathologic conditions "except jaundice" were excluding criterias.For each cases questioner fulfilled, AFP and Bi measured at the same time. Data analyzed by SPSS-13. Results: 66 cases were male and 34 were female, the mean amount of AFP and age of patients showed no meaningful relation between them (P=0.21).There was not meaningful relationship between AFP and sex (P=0.24).AFP and the onset time of icter (P=0.1) and serum bilirubin (P =0.87) did not show significant correlation. Weight of birth and blood groups ABO and Rh (P= 0.24, P=0.06, P= 0.526 respectively) had no meaningful relationship. Conclusion: There was not significant relationship between AFP and serum bilirubin, age, sex, weight, onset of icter and blood groups of patients.