Plasma alpha fetoprotein reference ranges in infancy: effect of prematurity.

摘要: The dearth of plasma alpha fetoprotein reference ranges for preterm infants often impairs the clinical interpretation data collected from ill babies. This study tested our hypothesis that meaningful could be established by a simple correction patient age at sampling date gestational deficit birth. Using modified radioimmunoassay kit method, determinations were performed on capillary and venous blood samples 56 babies aged birth to 5 months with ages ranging 26 weeks 43 weeks. Unmodified values grouped according examined statistically using normal theory methods, but these yielded excessively wide intervals non-Gaussian distribution parameters. Acceptable derived logarithmic transformation rearrangement against corrected deficit. These provisional in (and term) are applied groups previously meaningless results used test potential usefulness determination as diagnostic marker biliary atresia, hepatitis, yolk sac tumours.