title: Pathogenesis of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia after induction of labour with oxytocin.
abstract: To determine the pathogenesis of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia after oxytocin-induced labour venous cord blood from 95 healthy newborn infants was examined. Of these, 15 were delivered by elective caesarean section, 40 after spontaneous labour, and 40 after oxytocin-induced labour. There was no significant difference in any haematological or biochemical variable between the first two groups. Infants born after oxytocin-induced labour, however, showed clear evidence of increased haemolysis associated with significantly decreased erythrocyte deformability (P less than 0.001). In-vitro studies showed a time- and dose-related reduction in erythrocyte deformability in response to oxytocin. The findings suggest that the vasopressin-like action of oxytocin causes osmotic swelling of erythrocytes leading to decreased deformability and hence more rapid destruction with resultant hyperbilirubinaemia in the neonate.
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin