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Serum α-fetoprotein concentration in extremely low-birthweight infants
1Department of Neonatology, Gunma Children's Medical Center, Shibukawa, Japan.
Insights
Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels decrease with age in extremely low-birthweight infants (ELBWI). This study establishes a correlation between AFP concentration and age in ELBWI up to two years.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Extremely low-birthweight infants (ELBWI) face a higher risk of hepatoblastoma compared to normal-weight infants.
- Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a critical tumor marker for diagnosing hepatoblastoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in serum AFP concentration in ELBWI after birth.
- To establish a correlation between serum AFP levels and infant age.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum AFP measurements from 23 ELBWI (birthweight <1000 g) between 30 and 730 days of age.
- Statistical analysis to determine the relationship between log10 (AFP concentration) and log10 (age in days).
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was observed between serum AFP concentration and age in ELBWI (r = -0.961, P = 0.000).
- A regression formula was derived: log10 (AFP [ng/mL]) = 11.063 - 3.752 log10 (age [days]), explaining 92.3% of the variance (adjusted R² = 0.923).
Conclusions:
- Serum AFP concentration significantly correlates with age in ELBWI up to two years post-birth.
- The study determined the 95% confidence intervals for serum AFP concentrations in ELBWI during this period.
Background:
Extremely low-birthweight infants (ELBWI) are at greater risk of developing hepatoblastoma than are normal-weight infants. Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) plays an important role as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma, therefore the aim of this study was to determine the changes in serum AFP concentration after birth in ELBWI.
Methods:
Data were obtained for infants born between January 2005 and March 2008 with birthweight <1000 g who were followed up at Gunma Children's Medical Center with clinical examinations, including monitoring of the development of hepatoblastoma. The relationship between serum AFP concentration and age was analyzed up to 730 days after birth.
Results:
Overall, 95 serum AFP measurements were obtained from 23 infants 30-730 days of age, with gestational age 24-32 weeks, and birthweight 498-982 g. Log10 (AFP [ng/mL]) was significantly correlated with log10 (age [days]) (r = -0.961, P = 0.000, n = 95), with the following regression formula: log10 (AFP [ng/mL]) = 11.063 - 3.752 log10 (age [days]) (adjusted R2 = 0.923, n = 95). The standard error of the estimate, mean log10 (age [days]), and the sum of squares for log10 (age [days]) were 0.363, 2.503, and 10.579, respectively.
Conclusions:
A correlation was found between serum AFP concentration and age in ELBWI, and the 95%CI of serum AFP concentration was determined for ELBWI up to 2 years after birth.
