Perinatal asphyxia and jaundice in newborn infants

The serum bilirubin concentration was studied in 114 full term and 199 preterm babies suffering from either perinatal asphyxia or idiopathic indirect hyperbilirubinaemia, in order to establish the effect of asphyxia on the serum bilirubin level. Infants with any other disease causing non-physiologic jaundice were excluded. It was found that perinatal asphyxia per se does not exaggerate hyperbilirubinaemia either in full term or in preterm babies. Weight loss correlated significantly with the peak bilirubin concentration in all groups of patients. This would suggest the possible role of feeding and hydration in the genesis of hyperbilirubinaemia.