Neonatal Jaundice in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

Jährig, D., Jährig, K., Stiete, S., Beyersdorff, E., Poser, H. and Hopp, H. (Department of Paediatrics, the Data Centre of the Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Greifswald, and the'Gerhard Katsch'Central Research Institute for Diabetes, Karlsburg, G.D.R.). Neonatal jaundice in infants of diabetic mothers. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 360: 101, 1989.
357 IDMs and 20 healthy newborns of non-diabetic mothers were examined at term for body measurements, red blood cell count, serum bilirubin, cord blood insulin and blood glucose during the first postnatal week. The stage of maternal diabetes did not influence the course of neonatal bilirubin levels, but the IDMs had prolonged and higher bilirubinaemia compared with the controls. Hyperbilirubinaemia was found to be most prominent in newborns with an increased birthweightllength ratio and was not simply related to macrosomia (LGA). These infants had significantly lower blood glucose concentrations immediately after birth, whereas cord blood insulin was found to be identical between the IDM sub-groups. Bilirubinaemia in heavy for length infants was slightly correlated to haematocrit. For the pathogenesis of hyperbilirubinaemia in IDMs induction of heme oxygenase (due to a lack of energy provision following a phosphory lation disorder) is discussed. Nutritional support (early feeding, glucose infusions) does not affect the course of bilirubinaemia.