All issues > Volume 5(1); 1962

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1962;5(1):15-20. Published online January 31, 1962.

Serum Bilirubin Levels in Korean Newborn Infants

Chin Yong Chung¹, Eui Sun Lim¹, Byung Hoon Kim²

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Abstract

The present study was undertaken to obtain data with regard to the range of cord serum bilirubin levels and the range of daily bilirubin levels in full term infants and premature infants. The clinical material consisted of infants seen at the Severance Hospital. 37 normal infants, normal incompatible infants and premature infants constitute the subjects of this report. A free-flowing sample was obtained from a heel puncture and 0,8cc was directed into each of two small tubes. A Klette-Summerson Electrophotometer was standardized with dried bilirubin at 540 mu filter. The serum bilirubin levels were determined by the micro method of Molloy and Evelyn as modified by Hsia, Hsia and Gellis. SUMMARY: Cord bilirubin and daily serial determinations of bilirubin were performed in 10 premature and 51 full term infants. 1)Cord bilirubin levels of premature, normal compatible and incompatible infants are essentially the same. 2) Normal infants reach their peak levels of bilirubin at about four days of life, where as the peak bilirubin of premature infants is attained on the six days of life, on the average. The peak levels of bilirubin of premature infants not only occurs later than that of full term infants, but reaches higher levels, confirming the clinical impression that physiological jaundice is more severe and more prolonged in the premature infant than in the full term infant. 3)The degree of bilirubinemia and its duration are not related to birth weight. 4) Physiological icterus was unrelated to differences between baby and mother in respect to their blood groups. 5)Determination of level of serum bilirubin during the first neonatal period are of great diagnostic value with respect to erythroblastosis, particularly in cases caused by ABO incompatibility. A level of serum bilirubin above 10mg% during the first twenty four hours of life, or the significant appearance of icterus during this period, must be considered due to erythroblastosis until proved otherwise.

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