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Transcutaneous bilirubinometry. I. Correlations in term infants
Insights
The transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) accurately screens healthy infants for jaundice. However, phototherapy significantly reduces TcB accuracy, making it unreliable during light treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Medical Devices
- Pediatricaundice
Background:
- Neonatal jaundice is a common condition requiring monitoring.
- Transcutaneous bilirubinometry offers a non-invasive method for jaundice assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) in diverse infant populations.
- To determine the impact of phototherapy on TcB measurements.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated TcB in 43 white and 8 black infants without phototherapy.
- Assessed TcB reproducibility over 5 and 100 repetitions.
- Included 9 white infants undergoing phototherapy.
Main Results:
- High correlation (0.90) between TcB index and serum bilirubin in non-phototherapy infants.
- Phototherapy significantly decreased TcB accuracy.
- TcB demonstrated good reproducibility in healthy infants.
Conclusions:
- Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is a valuable screening tool for hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term infants.
- TcB is not recommended for monitoring infants receiving phototherapy due to reduced accuracy.
Abstract:
The transcutaneous bilirubinometer was evaluated in 43 white infants, eight black infants, and in nine white infants treated with phototherapy. The reproducibility of the instruments was determined after trials consisting of both five and 100 repetitions. Among the infants not being treated with phototherapy, TcB index and serum bilirubin concentration correlated at 0.90 level in both white and black infants. Phototherapy reduced the accuracy of the TcB and, at the present time, the use of this index in infants under light therapy cannot be recommended. Otherwise the TcB is a valuable tool in screening healthy term infants for hyperbilirubinemia.