Cord plasma alpha-fetoprotein values and neonatal jaundice

Umbilical cord plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values were determined in 127 infants with hyperbilirubinemia (56 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficient and 71 G-6-PD normal) and 136 control subjects (73 G-6-PD deficient and 63 G-6-PD normal). The mean alpha-fetoprotein value of 173 +/- 35.2 (SD) mg/L for the group of infants with hyperbilirubinemia was significantly greater than that (122 +/- 21.7 mg/L) for the control infants (P less than .001). G-6-PD status and sex did not significantly affect the alpha-fetoprotein values. Using an alpha-fetoprotein level of 130 mg/L as a "cut-off" value, the incidence of false-positive results was 25.5% and the incidence of false-negative results was 11.8%. This test can be used as a screening procedure to detect infants at high risk for hyperbilirubinemia.