Neonatal jaundice in 'healthy' very low birthweight infants.
The daily bilirubin levels during the first week of life in 94 premature very low birthweight (VLBW, less than 1500 g) relatively 'healthy' infants were determined. Mean daily bilirubin values peaked on the fourth day of life at 188.1 mumol/l (s.e.m. = 5.3). Twenty-eight infants developed hyperbilirubinaemia (bilirubin greater than 260 mumol/l), at which time they were exposed to phototherapy. When individual peak bilirubin values were evaluated, the overall peak value was 213.9 mumol/l (s.e.m. = 5.1) occurring at 4.81 days (s.e.m. = 0.11), although the value is most likely an underestimate, since the 28 pre-phototherapy values were not truly peak values. Seventy-six (81%) infants experienced bilirubin levels greater than 170 mumol/l. The method of delivery apparently had no impact on the bilirubin levels. All the infants remained well and progressed satisfactorily. 'Healthy' VLBW infants experience a much greater incidence and severity of neonatal jaundice than mature infants with the same clinical status.
Tan
K L
KL
Department of Paediatrics (Neonatal Unit), National University of Singapore.
D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012846:Singapore