Biomaterial Database

The risk of bilirubin encephalopathy in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. 1996

R Oktay, and M Satar, and A Atici

Department of Pediatrics, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana.

Jaundice is the most common and one of the most annoying problems that can occur in the newborn. Although most jaundiced infants recover without any serious problem, there is always a risk of bilirubin encephalopathy during the period of hyperbilirubinemia. The relationship between encephalopathy and serum free bilirubin levels was investigated in 83 newborn infants (40 premature, 43 mature) with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. A complete physical examination was done in all patients, and signs of bilirubin encephalopathy were noted if present. The serum free bilirubin level exceeded 0.1 mg/dl in 13 infants, and 12 of them showed signs of encephalopathy. On the other hand, none of the infants whose serum free bilirubin levels were below 0.1 mg/dl showed signs of encephalopathy. Although there is a significant positive correlation between serum total and free bilirubin levels, it is not clear at what total bilirubin level free bilirubin will appear. Serial determinations of free bilirubin appear to be more helpful in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in infants with an increased risk of bilirubin toxicity.

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
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D007235	Infant, Premature, Diseases	Diseases that occur in PREMATURE 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
D008297	Male		Males
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
D011446	Prospective Studies	Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group.	Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D005260	Female		Females
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages