Highly Elevated Alpha-fetoprotein Concentration in a Premature Infant

Abstract

Alpha-1-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced by the liver. Although its biological function is not fully understood, it is often used as a marker for cancer. High levels of AFP are also observed in premature infants. Reference ranges for AFP levels in premature infants are not specified. The authors present a case of a male newborn born at 25+5/7 weeks of gestational age. The boy underwent oncological diagnostics due to the detection, on the 24th day of life, of a liver lesion in an abdominal ultrasound examination, as well as significantly elevated AFP levels (>430,000 ng/mL). With each passing day, the AFP level gradually decreased, and the suspicious lesion was not visualized on abdominal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging on the 59th day of life. Based on the conducted examinations, prematurity and its treatment were considered the cause of high AFP levels. The aim of the study was to present the diagnostic difficulties associated with the lack of AFP norms for premature infants.