Hepatic enzymes, their induction and usefulness in predicting maximal serum bilirubin levels in premature newborn infants.
Sixty-seven babies were utilized to (a) document the serum bilirubin lowering effect and safety of a phenobarbitone and nikethamide combination in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia of non-hemolytic origin; (b) determine whether birthweight and/or SGOT, SGPT or SGGT activity on day one of life correlated with the maximum serum bilirubin level achieved; and (c) investigate the pattern of hepatic enzyme levels in serum under normal conditions anf following drug induction. Results indicate a significantly lower serum bilirubin level in the treated group of babies. Birthweight and day one SGGT levels, and SGGT/birthweight ratio correlated well with the maximum serum bilirubin reached, the latter ratio being particularly useful in predicting the degree of hyperbilirubinaemia.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D001724:Birth Weight; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009552:Nikethamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D009552:Nikethamide; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D010634:Phenobarbital