Position of the Oxygen Dissociation Curve in Newborns with ABO Constellation between Mother and Child

Abstract

In 19 newborns with ABO constellation between mother and child, the oxygen partial pressure at 50% saturation of blood (P₅₀) was determined within the first 24 h of the child’s life and was correlated to the serum bilirubin level of the third day. In contrary to babies with transitory hyperbilirubinaemia the P₅₀ value does not decrease at high bilirubin levels. This has to be explained as a physiological difference in these two forms of icterus neonatorum.