Reference Data on Neonatal Serum N-Acetyl--hexosaminidase Activity.

Background: Determination of neonate serum's N-acetyl--hexosaminidase (HEX) activity and correlation results with Apgar scale and factors routinely determined in newborn serum.

Aims: Providing reference values of neonates serum HEX activities, and indicate their diagnostic significance.

Study Design: The study was performed using random serum samples of 111 infants (53 ♂/58 ♀), aged 1-30 days. The activity of HEX was determined colorimetrically and expressed in nKat/L.

Results: Serum HEX activity of 111 newborns was 360.5 ± 114.0 nKat/L and significantly positively correlated with gestation week at the day of delivery, birth weight, weight on day of blood collection, sex, and serum CRP.

Conclusions: Reference values presented for neonatal serum activities of HEX may be used in neonatal diagnostics, for example, to detect inflammation and other diseases or for early assessment of the risk of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases.