Abstract
An in vivo evaluation of the encephalopathic risk of hyperbilirubinemia would ideally consist of a brief non-invasive repeatable measure that correlated with CNS function, would be sensitive to Minimal toxicity and would demonstrate improvement with appropriate therapy. Assessment of non-nutritive suck (NNS) was carried out immediately before and within 1 hour after ten 2-volune exchange transfusions performed for hyperbilirubinenia in 5 infants. MNS was sensitive to acute redaction of serum bilirubin and changes in NHS were demonstrated each tine bilirubin levels were lowered. Improvement in NHS correlated with the demonstrated ability of exchange transfusion to reduce bilirubin encephalopnthy. Mean ± SEM suck rate was 1.56±.05 per second per burst pre-exchange and 1.77±.03 post-exchange (t=5.8, p <.001). With lowered bilirubin levels there was a trend towards fewer abnormal wave forms, less frequent tremor in the interburst interval, and an increase in median burst amplitude but these differences were not significant. The results demonstrate that NNS way be a sensitive measure of the in vivo effects of hyperbilirubinemia and may be useful in monitoring the response to therapy.
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Keenan, W., Butcher, R., Kazmaier, K. et al. NEUROLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF HYPERBILIRUBINIC INFANTS. Pediatr Res 8, 463 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00738
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00738