Cord blood alfa -fetoprotein as a predictive index for indirect hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates

Background: Prediction of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is very important for early treatment and prophylaxis of neurologic sequels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of umbilical cord ?-fetoprotein (UCAFP) as a marker of an increased risk for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in full term babies. Methods: Umbilical cord blood was collected from 400 term singleton full term well newborn babies who met our inclusion criteria and stored in -20°C. Those who developed jaundice and admitted for phototherapy (34 newborns: 22 males and 12 females), considered as case group and 31 non-jaundiced infants (13 males and 18 females) gestational age–weight-matched considered as the control group. The serum level of UCAFP was checked in these 65 newborns and was compared between these two groups. Results: Mean UCAFP in case group was 523.429±174.158 and in control group was 664.548±154.894 ?g/L. In the non-jaundiced group, mean UCAFP values was higher than neonate with hyperbilirubinemia (664.548 vs. 523.429?g/L). The mean UCAFP in males was 519.023 ?g/L and in females was 531.508 ?g/L (p=0.066). Sixty (92.3%) babies delivered by cesarean section (CS) and 5 (7.7%) by normal vaginal delivery (p=0.566). Conclusion: According to our study, there was no significant positive association between UCAFP and subsequent neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia or serum bilirubin level