All issues > Volume 31(10); 1988

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1988;31(10):1259-1266. Published online October 31, 1988.

Bilirubin-Binding Capacity of Albumin in Korean Neonates.

Jung Bae Lee¹, Chul Lee¹, Ran Namgung¹, Dong Gwan Han¹, Kyung Son Song²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Received: March 6, 1988;  Accepted: May 19, 1988.

Abstract

The binding of bilirubin by albumin is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of kemictems. Free bilirubin hypothesis has led to develop methods to evaluate the binding capacity and affinity of bilirubin to albumin in the plasma. Horseradish peroxidase oxidation of free bilirubin can estimate the level of free bilirubin, bilirubin binding capacity and bilirubin binding affinity. Twenty four term infants and twenty adults were participated in this study. Serum free bilirubin concentration was determined by automated peroxidase micromethod. Each serum was titrated for the determination of bilirubin binding capacity and bilirubin binding affinity by serial additions of small aliquots of bilirubin to the serum. Titration curves were plotted as free bilirubin versus total bilirubin concentration. The titration data were plotted as Scatchard graphs to estimate the binding capacity and binding affinity. Free bilirubin concentration of neonatal serum were 3.76±1.20 n Mol/L. Binding capacity of neonatal serum (25.55±3.95 mg%, or bilirubin: albumin molar ratios 0.87±0.15) was significantly lower than that in adult serum (35.594-5.77 mg%; or blirubin: albumin molar ratios 1.05±0.14). Binding affinity of neonotal serum (8.81 ±2.65 X1O7/M) was significantly lower than that in adult serum (17.83 ± 7.34 X107/M). We concluded that the bilirubin binding ability of infant serum is less than that of adult serum. Adult serum can bind bilirubin nearly twice as effectively as infant serum can.

Keywords :Free Bilirubin, Bilirubin Binding Capacity, Bilirubin Binding Affinity