Predischarge Screening for Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Identifies Infants Who Need Phototherapy

Predicting Nonhemolytic Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

“…However, infants born at 38 weeks' gestation were categorized as low-risk infants, 29 possibly because of observations (n = 48 patients treated for hyperbilirubinemia) of no significant difference in rates of hyperbilirubinemia between infants born at 38 to 39 weeks and infants born at $40 weeks' gestation. 30 Our study confirms several smaller (n = 73-270 patients) US studies 12,[31][32][33] documenting an impact of each decreasing week of gestation on the risk of developing severe hyperbilirubinemia. Given that infants born not only after 37 but also after 38 weeks' gestation were, in most combinations of other perinatal risk factors, found to be at moderate to high risk for hyperbilirubinemia (Figure 1), we suggest that a GA of 38 weeks should be listed as a major risk factor in coming updates of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia guidelines.…”

Managing the jaundiced newborn: a persistent challenge

“…7,8 Almost every infant will have a total serum bilirubin level that is above the normal maximum adult level of 17.1 μmol/L (1 mg/dL) because they have an increased turnover of erythrocytes, produce more than twice the amount of bilirubin produced daily by an adult 9 and have a transient deficiency in their ability to conjugate and clear bilirubin. This imbalance between bilirubin production and conjugation is fundamental to the pathogenesis of neonatal bilirubinemia.…”

A comparison of serum and transcutaneous methods for diagnosis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

“…However, 10% of term and 25% of preterm infants require treatment. 2,3 Hyperbilirubinemia is the major cause of severe injury in preterm neonates. Detecting neonates at risk for jaundice and preventing encephalopathy caused by bilirubin are two important priorities by public health providers.…”