Cord bilirubin level as predictor for newborns at risk for post natal hyperbiliruinemia

Abstract EN

Objective : to evaluate whether bilirubin levels in cord blood could predict neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia that would require treatment, in full-term healthy newborn infants.

Material and Methods : Umbilical cord serum bilirubin concentration was analyzed in 462 full term infants with birth weight A2500 grams and an apgar score A7, born at Babylon teaching Hospital for maternity and children,.

Infants with ecchymosis, cephalohematoma, septicemia and maternal history of premature rupture of membrane were excluded from the study.

Cord bilirubin level was measured for all enrolled neonates and serum bilirubin level was obtained at day of admission for hyperbilirubinemia.

Total serum bilirubin level A14mg / dl was considered as significant hyperbilirubinemia .Data were analyzed using SPSS 9, 15 descriptive statistics.

Results : 6 % of enrolled newborns developed hyperbiliruinemia.

Mean and standard deviation of cord bilirubin was (1.38 ± 0.48) mg / dl for group didn’t develop hyperbilirubinemia but for those admitted for hyperbilirubinemia was (2.51 ± 1.14) mg / dl.

There was statistically significant relation between cord bilirubin level and subsequent hyperbilirubinemia (P value < 0.001) 98.1 % of neonates with cord bilirubin levels B 2mg (34.4umol) / dl did not develop significant hyperbilirubinemia.

Conclusion : A cord bilirubin level above 2 mg (34.4 umol) / dl is a useful predictor of significant hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term newborns.