UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BILIRUBIN AS A PREDICTOR OF SEVERE HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA REQUIRING PHOTOTHERAPY IN HEALTHY, FULLTERM NEWBORNS

Abstract

Background: A temporary lack of bilirubin conjugation is the hallmark of jaundice, a clinical disease that causes neonatal
hyperbilirubinemia, an increase in total bilirubin concentration. Nearly 60% of term babies and 80% of preterm babies
are affected by this, which can result in problems like brain neuron loss.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether cord blood bilirubin at birth can be utilized as a predictor of
substantial neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in full-term neonates that require phototherapy.
Methods: Serum total bilirubin was measured on the third day of life, and cord blood bilirubin was measured in 220
newborns right after delivery and for the next three days. Neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia who required
phototherapy were designated as cases, whereas those without hyperbilirubinemia were designated as controls. After
determining the cut-off level of cord blood bilirubin, associations between serum total bilirubin and cord blood bilirubin
were evaluated.
Results: The study's findings revealed that 100 of the 200 neonates that were monitored had severe hyperbilirubinemia
that required phototherapy. Sensitivity and specificity were 56% and 98% for cord blood bilirubin levels of 2.5 mg/dL
and 100% and 72%, respectively, for third-day bilirubin levels of 1.5 mg/dL.
Conclusion: The current study suggests that in full-term neonates, a cut-off value of 2.5 mg/dL in cord blood bilirubin
can be utilized to predict serious neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy. Additionally, a non-invasive,
affordable, and straightforward technique for predicting subsequent neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is umbilical cord blood
bilirubin estimate, which can assist doctors with follow-up for high-risk infants and early discharge of normal neonates.