Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

12.4K

Heme Catabolism and Bilirubin Production in Readmitted Jaundiced Newborns

M Jeffrey Maisels1, Elizabeth A Kring2, Mary P Coffey3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI; Department of Pediatrics, Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|June 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

In jaundiced newborns readmitted for phototherapy, end-tidal carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured. The findings suggest hemolysis is not the main cause of hyperbilirubinemia in many of these infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition in newborns, often requiring phototherapy.
  • Readmission for phototherapy may indicate persistent or severe hyperbilirubinemia.
  • The contribution of hemolysis to hyperbilirubinemia in readmitted infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess end-tidal carbon monoxide (CO) levels in jaundiced newborns readmitted for phototherapy.
  • To evaluate the potential role of hemolysis as a primary cause of hyperbilirubinemia in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • End-tidal CO levels were measured in 50 jaundiced newborns.
  • Measurements were taken in infants readmitted for phototherapy between 54 and 244 hours of age.

Main Results:

  • The median end-tidal CO level was 1.55 ppm.
  • This level is indicative of minimal hemolysis.

Conclusions:

  • Hemolysis is unlikely to be the primary driver of hyperbilirubinemia in a significant proportion of newborns readmitted for phototherapy.
  • Further research is needed to identify the underlying causes of hyperbilirubinemia in these infants.

Keywords:
bilirubin clearanceend-tidal carbon monoxideneonatal hyperbilirubinemiaphototherapy

More Related Videos

Isolation of Neonatal Extrahepatic Cholangiocytes07:54

Isolation of Neonatal Extrahepatic Cholangiocytes

Published on: June 5, 2014

10.7K
Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates06:10

Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates

Published on: August 23, 2022

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes01:22

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups....
4.4K
Transcytosis of IgG01:15

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
3.9K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
123
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling01:17

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling

Enterohepatic cycling involves the active secretion of drugs and their metabolites into the bile via transporters in the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. This secretion is an integral part of the digestive process, releasing these substances into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Post-release drugs and metabolites can be reabsorbed into the body from the intestine. For conjugated metabolites like glucuronides, reabsorption requires enzymatic hydrolysis by intestinal microflora. This...
2.3K
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder01:26

Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
1.7K
Rh Blood Group01:19

Rh Blood Group

The Rhesus (Rh) antigen is crucial in determining blood groups and ensuring compatibility during blood transfusions.
2.5K