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[Bilirubin level and estrogen elimination in newborns (author's transl)]
Insights
Newborns with jaundice eliminate estradiol slower than healthy infants, suggesting a relative insufficiency in estradiol elimination. However, estriol elimination is not affected, and these steroid levels do not predict hyperbilirubinemia risk.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal Physiology
Context:
- Investigating neonatal jaundice (icterus neonatorum simplex).
- Comparing steroid hormone levels in jaundiced and non-jaundiced newborns.
Purpose:
- To compare the elimination rates of free estradiol and estriol in newborns.
- To determine the relationship between these steroid levels and neonatal jaundice.
Summary:
- Estradiol and estriol levels were measured in cord and peripheral blood of newborns.
- Icteric newborns showed slower estradiol elimination compared to anicteric controls.
- Estriol elimination was rapid and independent of bilirubin levels.
Impact:
- Suggests a relative insufficiency in estradiol elimination in jaundiced newborns.
- Findings indicate estradiol and estriol levels are not primary causes of neonatal jaundice.
- Highlights differences in steroid metabolism between jaundiced and non-jaundiced infants.
Abstract:
Free estradiol and estriol was determined radioimmunologically in cord blood and in peripheral venous blood during the third, fifth and seventh day of life. The steroid level of a group of children with icterus neonatorum simplex were compared with an anicteric control group. In spite of the higher level of estriol in cord blood during the first week of life, estriol was eliminated much more rapidly than estradiol and independent of the bilirubin level. Given the same initial values for estradiol in cord blood of both control groups, the estradiol elimination rate was significantly slower in icteric newborns. The level of estradiol in cord blood was significantly higher in newborn males than in newborn females. A higher level in cord blood, however, does not increase the risk of a later newborn hyperbilirubinemia. Our findings tend to indicate that no etiologic importance should be attached to the amount of estradiol and estradiol to be eliminated, for the development of icterus neonatorum simplex. At the same time, icteric newborns have a relative insufficiency in estradiol elimination but not, however, in estriol elimination.