title: Effects of albumin infusion therapy on total and unbound bilirubin values in term infants with intensive phototherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous albumin administration on the serum total and unbound bilirubin values in term non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemic neonates during intensive phototherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight infants (gestational age 39.4 +/- 1.4 weeks; birth weight 3,245 +/- 435 g) were given phototherapy with similar light energy. Twenty infants (control group) received only phototherapy, while 38 others (albumin-treated group) were also given human albumin at 1 g/kg bodyweight, i.v., during the first 2 h of phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing changes in total and unbound bilirubin values 0, 2, 6 and 24 h after entering the study between the albumin-treated group and the control group, there was a significant reduction in the serum unbound bilirubin values at the end of albumin treatment and at 6 and 24 h. However, there was no significant reduction in total serum bilirubin values during the study period. In the albumin-treated group, the mean serum unbound bilirubin reduction from the baseline level at the end of albumin treatment and at 6 and 24 h was 0.40 +/- 0.19, 0.41 +/- 0.20 and 0.43 +/- 0.20 microg/dL, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that albumin priming may be effective for an immediate reduction in serum unbound bilirubin values, the fraction that is potentially neurotoxic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Japan. hosonos@rb3.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosono
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagoshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nozawa
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D001663:Bilirubin