Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement as a Predictor of Significant Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Low Birth Weight Neonates

Authors

  • Suchetha S Rao Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka- 576104, India.
  • Karthik Chellaganapathy Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka- 576104, India.
  • Nutan Kamath Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka- 576104, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v42i1.38236

Keywords:

Bilirubin, early diagnosis, jaundice, prognosis

Abstract

Introduction: Early recognition of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is essential to prevent bilirubin encephalopathy. Transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) measurement is a simple and easy method to predict neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. We aimed to study the efficacy of TCB as a predictor of subsequent significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in low birth neonates and compared the forehead and sternal sites for TCB measurement.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted from August to October 2018 at a teaching hospital in South India including term and late preterm neonates weighing < 2.5 kg. The TCB values were obtained from the forehead (TCB-FH) and sternum (TCB-S) by a non-Invasive Bilirubin Analyser. The average of TCB (TCB- AV) was determined for each baby with TCB-FH and TCB –S values. Neonates were followed up subsequently till discharge for the development of significant hyperbilirubinemia. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated and the best cut-off value for 24-hour TCB as a predictor of significant hyperbilirubinemia was established.

Results: The study included 88 neonates, of which 39 (44.3%) were late preterm and 49 (55.7%) term small for gestation age. Mean values of TCB –AV 6.25 ± 1.58, TCB – FH 6.24 ± 1.57391, and TCB – S 6.27 ± 1.56 were noted. The cut off value for TCB – AV was found to be 6.85 as a predictor for subsequent neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. TCB – AV was a better predictor than TCB - FH or TCB – S.

Conclusions: TCB measurement is an easy and reliable predictor for subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia in low birth weight neonates. The average of TCB forehead and sternum was a better predictor of significant hyperbilirubinemia.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
73
PDF
111

Downloads

Published

2022-11-27

How to Cite

S Rao, S., Chellaganapathy, K., & Kamath, N. (2022). Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement as a Predictor of Significant Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Low Birth Weight Neonates. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 42(1), 129–133. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v42i1.38236

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Suchetha S Rao, Dr, Karthik Chellaganapathy, Mr, Nutan Kamath, Dr

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).