Bilirubin crystals in neutrophils in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia

Serum unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) levels > 205.2 mumol/L were present in 120 of 143 cases of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Sixty-five per cent (78/120) cases showed bilirubin crystals in the neutrophils of Leishman's stained smears from EDTA blood. The proportion of crystal positive (CP) neutrophils was higher in septicaemia than in Haemolytic Disease of Newborn (HDN). Mortality rate was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in CP septicaemic cases when compared with those which were crystal negative (CN).