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Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Isolation of Neonatal Extrahepatic Cholangiocytes
Published on: June 5, 2014
Delay of liver maturation as a cause of transient neonatal galactosemia
H Ono1, H Mawatari, N Mizoguchi
1Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. onohiro@mcai.med.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Background:
Because a large amount of serum alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) is synthesized in the liver of the fetus or premature newborn, high concentrations or delayed degradation of serum alpha-FP during the neonatal period may reflect hepatic immaturity.
Methods:
In order to evaluate the relationship between transient neonatal galactosemia and delay of liver maturation, the concentration and half-life of serum alpha-FP during the neonatal period were measured in patients with transient galactosemia and in normal neonates.
Results:
No significant differences were observed in the serum concentration of alpha-FP between normal and galactosemic patients less than 1 month of age. However, the half-life of serum alpha-FP was significantly longer in galactosemic patients between 15 and 60 days of age compared with age-matched normal neonates.
Conclusion:
Based on these results, we hypothesize that delay of liver maturation during the neonatal period, especially during the first 2 months after birth, can be a cause of transient neonatal galactosemia.
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