Biomaterial Database

Routine phenobarbital for prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. 1976

C R Thomas

In a parallel study conducted over a 1-year period, involivng 460 private prenatal patients, the effect of routine prenatal phenobarbital for the prevention of neonatal jaundice was evaluated. The incidence of significant jaundice (bilirubin levels greater than or equal to 10 mg/100 ml) occurred in 4.1% of the 221 test patients compared to 16.3% of the 239 control patients. No significant complications resulted from the drug therapy, and the newborn infants demonstrated no adverse effects attributable to the phenobarbital. Mothers who were given prophylactic phenobarbital took their infants home earlier, less often brought infants back to the hospital for photo-therapy, and spent fewer dollars for their total medical care than their control conterparts. Routine phenobarbital prophylaxis was found to be a safe, effective, and economic method of preventing hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007567	Jaundice, Neonatal	Yellow discoloration of the SKIN; MUCOUS MEMBRANE; and SCLERA in the NEWBORN. It is a sign of NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA. Most cases are transient self-limiting (PHYSIOLOGICAL NEONATAL JAUNDICE) occurring in the first week of life, but some can be a sign of pathological disorders, particularly LIVER DISEASES.	Icterus Gravis Neonatorum,Neonatal Jaundice,Physiological Neonatal Jaundice,Severe Jaundice in Neonate,Severe Jaundice in Newborn,Jaundice, Physiological Neonatal,Neonatal Jaundice, Physiological
D007647	Kernicterus	A term used pathologically to describe BILIRUBIN staining of the BASAL GANGLIA; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM and clinically to describe a syndrome associated with HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA. Clinical features include athetosis, MUSCLE SPASTICITY or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and DEAFNESS. Nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER (e.g., SEPSIS). This condition occurs primarily in neonates (INFANT, NEWBORN), but may rarely occur in adults. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p613)	Bilirubin Encephalopathy,Hyperbilirubinemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Bilirubin,Encephalopathy, Hyperbilirubinemic,Bilirubin Encephalopathies,Encephalopathies, Bilirubin,Encephalopathies, Hyperbilirubinemic,Hyperbilirubinemic Encephalopathies
D010634	Phenobarbital	A barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant. It potentiates GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID action on GABA-A RECEPTORS, and modulates chloride currents through receptor channels. It also inhibits glutamate induced depolarizations.	Phenemal,Phenobarbitone,Phenylbarbital,Gardenal,Hysteps,Luminal,Phenobarbital Sodium,Phenobarbital, Monosodium Salt,Phenylethylbarbituric Acid,Acid, Phenylethylbarbituric,Monosodium Salt Phenobarbital,Sodium, Phenobarbital
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011295	Prenatal Care	Care provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal and prenatal mortality.	Antenatal Care,Care, Antenatal,Care, Prenatal
D003365	Costs and Cost Analysis	Absolute, comparative, or differential costs pertaining to services, institutions, resources, etc., or the analysis and study of these costs.	Affordability,Analysis, Cost,Cost,Cost Analysis,Cost Comparison,Cost Measures,Cost-Minimization Analysis,Costs and Cost Analyses,Costs, Cost Analysis,Pricing,Affordabilities,Analyses, Cost,Analyses, Cost-Minimization,Analysis, Cost-Minimization,Comparison, Cost,Comparisons, Cost,Cost Analyses,Cost Comparisons,Cost Measure,Cost Minimization Analysis,Cost, Cost Analysis,Cost-Minimization Analyses,Costs,Measure, Cost,Measures, Cost
D005260	Female		Females
D006760	Hospitalization	The confinement of a patient in a hospital.	Hospitalizations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man