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The accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubinometry in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 212–218 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the correlation between total serum and transcutaneous bilirubin and to determine the reliability of transcutaneous bilirubinometry for screening and monitoring of neonatal jaundice among preterms.

Study Design

Ninety nine infants with gestational ages ≤34 weeks were prospectively enrolled. Babies were classified into three groups as; 24–28, 29–31, and 32–34 weeks. Total serum bilirubin and simultaneous transcutaneous bilirubin were measured before the onset of phototheraphy, during and at 24 h after discontinuing phototherapy.

Results

Total serum bilirubin significantly correlated with transcutaneous bilirubin in the whole cohort (r = 0.867, p < 0.001) and in each group before, during and after phototheraphy. Hypotension was the only variable which effects the difference between two methods at postnatal first day of life (p = 0.039).

Conclusion

Transcutaneous bilirubin levels were highly correlated with total serum bilirubin levels even in 24–28 GW babies. Transcutaneous bilirubin may be useful for screening and monitoring of jaundice in very preterm newborns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Didem Arman, Sevilay Topcuoğlu & Güner Karatekin

  2. Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tugba Gürsoy

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

    Fahri Ovalı

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  1. Didem Arman
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  2. Sevilay Topcuoğlu
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Correspondence to Didem Arman.

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Arman, D., Topcuoğlu, S., Gürsoy, T. et al. The accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubinometry in preterm infants. J Perinatol 40, 212–218 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0445-3

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