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Updated: May 7, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Prediction of hyper-bilirubinemia in healthy neonates using umbilical cord blood bilirubin
Madhav Shridharrao Kadam1, Mohit Garg2, Seema Sutay3
1Department of Biochemistry, Parbhani Medical College and RP Hospital Research Institute, Maharashtra, India.
Insights
Umbilical cord blood bilirubin levels can predict neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. This simple test helps identify infants needing phototherapy, allowing for early discharge of healthy newborns and focused follow-up for high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Neonatal jaundice, a common condition, results from temporary issues with bilirubin conjugation.
- Predicting hyperbilirubinemia is crucial for timely intervention in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cord blood bilirubin as an early predictor of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy in full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 220 neonates.
- Cases: infants with hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy. Controls: infants without hyperbilirubinemia.
- Serum total bilirubin and cord blood bilirubin levels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Mean cord blood bilirubin: 2.64 ± 0.63 mg/dL.
- Mean 3rd-day serum bilirubin: 16.14 ± 1.4 mg/dL.
- A positive correlation (r=0.087) was found between 3rd-day serum bilirubin and cord blood bilirubin.
Conclusions:
- Umbilical cord blood bilirubin estimation is a non-invasive, economical, and simple predictive method.
- This assessment aids clinicians in managing neonatal jaundice, facilitating early discharge and targeted follow-up.
Abstract:
Jaundice is a clinical condition characterized by transient deficiency of bilirubin conjugation, leading to neonatal hyper-bilirubinemia. Therefore, it is of interest to assess cord blood bilirubin at birth as a predictor of neonatal hyper-bilirubinemia needing phototherapy in full-term neonates. In 220 neonates with hyper-bilirubinemia needing phototherapy were assigned as cases and without hyper-bilirubinemia as controls to assess association in serum total bilirubin and cord blood bilirubin were assessed after identifying the cut-off level of cord blood bilirubin. The mean cord blood bilirubin level was 2.64 ± 0.63 and total serum bilirubin estimated on 3rd day of life was 16.14 ± 1.4. 3rd day serum bilirubin and cord blood bilirubin were correlated positively with the (r=0.087). Umbilical cord blood bilirubin estimation is a non-invasive, economical, and simple method of predicting subsequent neonatal hyper-bilirubinemia that can help clinicians for early discharge of normal neonates and follow-up in high-risk infants.
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