All issues > Volume 28(6); 1985

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1985;28(6):538-544. Published online June 30, 1985.

The Evolution of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels in the Newborn and Infants.

Gu Seok Jung¹, Chan Yung Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics,Pusan St. Benedict Hospital
²Department of Pediatrics, Colieage of Medicine, Pusan National University

Abstract

The author observed serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration in 112 cases of healthy, fullterm newborns and infants from March 1984 to September 1984. Among them, 9 cases were cord bloods of healthy, full-term newborns who were delivered at Pusan St. Benedict Hospital, the others were healthy infants under the age of 36 months who visited well-baby-clinic of Pusan St. Benedict Hospital. The levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein were measured quantitatively by radioimmunoassay. The results were summarized as follows: 1)The mean value of serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration in the cord blood at birth was 86.8±11.6 ug/ml. The range was from 63 to 102 /ug/ml. 2) After birth, the mean value of serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration was rapidly decreased to 52.6±24.3 ^g/ml to 10 days, 10.7±7.7 ug/ml to 20 days and 1.3±0.68 ug/ml to 30 days. The correlation coefficient was 一 0.804 which was statistically significant (p<0.01). 3)After 1 month, the mean value of serum AFP concentration was found to be rapidly decreased to 894±191 ng/ml at 1 `2 months, 319±318 ng/ml at 2~3 months, 117±61 ng/ml at 3 ~4 months, 50±32 ng/ml at 4~6 months, 12±9 ng/ml at 6~9 months, 5.2±4.8 ng/ml at 9~12 months, 2.8±1.9 ng/ml at 12~ 18 months, 2.7±2.1 ng/ml at 18〜24 months, 1.9± 0.8 ng/ml at 24~25 months and 1.6±0.9 ng/ml at 25~36 months. The correlation coefficient was 0.390 which was statistically significant (p<0.01).

Keywords :Alpha-fetoprotein; Newborn and infants