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Kernicterus in term infants
Author(s) -
YEUNG C. Y.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1985.tb00163.x
Subject(s) - kernicterus , medicine , exchange transfusion , bilirubin , haemolysis , pediatrics , serum bilirubin , immunology
Kernicterus is a frequent occurrence in Chinese term infants. In a previous study, the mean level of serum bilirubin of 152 kernicteric infants was 35.4 mg/dl (605.3 μmol/l) and the range was 22.3‐50 mg/dl. More recently, three further term infants developed kernicterus and one exhibited bilirubin level of only 23.3 mg/dl. Features of haemolysis were lacking in 56.8% of these infants. Evidence of brain damage occurred in 26.5% in a former series and in 5.5% of the more recent study of those infants who developed bilirubinaemia exceeding 20 mg/dl. Such a high risk favours the present practice of exchange transfusion for rising bilirubin beyond 20 mg/dl (342 μmol/l) in Chinese term infants.