Role of cord blood bilirubin and albumin levels as predictors of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia in newborns

Introduction: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common problems in term and preterm babies. Development of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates is fretful for the parents and a concern for the pediatrician too. Healthy babies born through normal vaginal delivery who are getting discharged early are being readmitted for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. Aim sand Objectives: The present study is done to determine the correlation of cord blood bilirubin, albumin and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in identifying newborn babies at risk of developing significant hyperbilirubinemia and to establish the cutoff values of cord blood bilirubin and cord blood albumin levels to identify such high-risk neonates. Materials and Methods: In present study, 303 term neonates who are delivered in ASRAM, Eluru from January 2012-January 2013, were included after parental consent. Cord blood bilirubin, Blood grouping and typing, Cord blood albumin and serum bilirubin levels were done in all babies. Results: The incidence of significant hyperbilirubinemia in this study was 23.7%. Cord serum unconjugated bilirubin level ≥2.0 mg/dl and total cordserum bilirubin level ≥ 2.5mg/dl as high risk indicator towards predicting neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in first week of life. 58.53% babies had cord serum albumin level < 2.8gm/dl. Conclusion: Cord serum unconjugated bilirubin level ≥2mg/dl and total cord serum bilirubin level ≥2.5mg/dl, cord blood albumin <2.8g/dl is a high-risk indicator towards predicting neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the first week of life.