Auditory neuropathy in hyperbilirubinemia: is there a correlation between serum bilirubin, neuron-specific enolase levels and auditory neuropathy?
This study evaluated whether a correlation exists between increased serum bilirubin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) assays (a biochemical index of neuronal damage) and auditory neuropathy. Nineteen term neonates without hemolysis whose serum bilirubin levels were above 20 mg/dl and 27 healthy term newborns with bilirubin levels <13 mg/dl were included in the study. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) of patients with hyperbilirubinemia were obtained before discharge. This preliminary study did not show any correlation between the serum NSE and bilirubin values. However, infants who had auditory neuropathy had significantly higher NSE levels, and thus these patients, being in the high-risk group, need close follow-up.
Akman
Ipek
I
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara, Turkey.
Ozek
Eren
E
Kulekci
Sezer
S
Türkdogan
Dilşad
D
Cebeci
Dilşad
D
Akdaş
Ferda
F
D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000150:complications*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*
D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D001663:Bilirubin