Assessing the Predictive Value of Serum Bilirubin before 6 Hours of Life for Subsequent Hyperbilirubinemia in Healthy Term Neonates

Hyperbilirubinemia in Term Neonates

Abstract

Background: Hyperbilirubinaemia, presenting as jaundice, is a ubiquitous and frequently benign condition in newborn babies but is a leading cause of hospitalisation in the first week of life. The present study was conducted to assess the predictive value of serum bilirubin before 6 hours of life for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term neonates. Subjects & Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics in a tertiary care hospital from April 2020 to September 2020 among 74 term neonates of both genders were recruited. Total serum bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin was estimated first, within 6 hours of life and second, after 72 hours of life by Modified Van den Berghs kit method. Results: Vaginal delivery was seen in 56 and cesarean in 18, parity 1 was present in 40, 2 in 24 and >2 in 10, blood group A was present in 9, B in 15, AB in 20 and O in 28. The mean TSB level (mg/dl) between 2.6- 4.0 was seen in 30, 4.1- 5.5 in 34 and >5.6 in 10 patients. TSB level (mg/dl) between 7.7-10.2 was seen in 7, 10.3-12.7 in 18, 12.8-15.3 in 36 and >15.4 in 13 patients. Hyperbilirubinemia was seen in 2 with bilirubin level between 2.6-4, in 4 with bilirubin level between 4.1-5.5 and 6 with bilirubin level >5.6. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Total serum bilirubin level of >5 mg/dL within 6 hours of birth may be considered as a predictor for risk of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia