Neonatal jaundice in 'healthy' very low birthweight infants |
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Authors: | K. L. TAN |
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Affiliation: | Department of Paediatrics (Neonatal Unit), National University of Singapore, Singapore |
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Abstract: | The daily bilirubin levels during the first week of life in 94 premature very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500g) relatively 'healthy' infants were determined. Mean daily bilirubin values peaked on the fourth day of life at 188.1 μmol/l (s.e.m. = 5.3). Twenty-eight infants developed hyperbilirubinaemia (bilirubin > 260 μmol/l), at which time they were exposed to phototherapy. When individual peak bilirubin values were evaluated, the overall peak value was 213.9 μmol/l (s.e.m. = 5.1) occurring at 4.81 days (s.e.m. = 0.11), although the value is most likely an underestimate, since the 28 pre-phototherapy values were not truly peak values. Seventy-six (81%) infants experienced bilirubin levels > 170 μmol/l. The method of delivery apparently had no impact on the bilirubin levels. All the infants remained well and progressed satisfactorily.'Healthy' VLBW infants experience a much greater incidence and severity of neonatal jaundice than mature infants with the same clinical status. |
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Keywords: | neonatal jaundice very low birthweight infants |
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