Natural history of early neonatal bilirubinemia: a global perspective.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2021

Publication Title

Journal of Perinatology

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to selection bias and other issues, the only available serum bilirubin-based nomogram does not reflect the natural history of early neonatal bilirubinemia. Our objective was to obtain a global picture of the natural history of early post-natal bilirubin trajectories.

STUDY DESIGN: We pooled readings from 19 published transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram reports including many newborns at multiple sites. We constructed a universal transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram which included the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles from 12 to 120 h.

RESULTS: The global transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram included >119,000 readings from 44,392 apparently normal, predominantly breastfed newborns ≥35 weeks gestation. The pooled transcutaneous bilirubin trajectories increased during the first 3 post-natal days, and peaked or plateaued between the 3rd and 4th days.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first globally derived transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram that reflects the natural history of early neonatal bilirubinemia in neonates ≥35 weeks gestation.

Volume

41

Issue

4

First Page

873

Last Page

878

DOI

10.1038/s41372-020-00901-x

ISSN

1476-5543

PubMed ID

33398058

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