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Update on Predicting Severe Hyperbilirubinemia and Bilirubin Neurotoxicity Risks in Neonates

Pearl W Chang1, Thomas B Newman2, M Jeffrey Maisels3

  • 1Seattle Children's Hospital, M/S FA.2.115, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145. United States.

Current Pediatric Reviews
|January 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Severe hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus remain risks for newborns despite screening. This review identifies risk factors for developing severe jaundice and kernicterus in otherwise healthy infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Extreme hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus, though rare, persist despite universal newborn screening protocols.
  • Kernicterus in high-resource countries often affects otherwise healthy infants discharged from well-baby nurseries, particularly those without known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors associated with severe hyperbilirubinemia in newborns.
  • To identify risk factors that increase the likelihood of kernicterus in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing existing literature on hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus.
  • The review focuses on risk factors for newborns of ≥35 weeks gestational age.

Main Results:

  • Risk factors for severe hyperbilirubinemia in newborns are detailed.
  • Specific risk factors contributing to kernicterus in hyperbilirubinemic infants are highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Despite screening, vigilance for risk factors of severe hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus is crucial.
  • Understanding these risk factors can aid in preventing severe outcomes in newborns.

Keywords:
Hyperbilirubinemiajaundicekernicterusneonatesneurotoxicityphototherapy

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