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Extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus spectrum disorder in Denmark during the years 2000–2015

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 194–202 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To determine the incidence and etiology of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥450 µmol/L, and kernicterus spectrum disorder (KSD) in Denmark between 2000 and 2015.

Study design

We identified all infants born between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2015 with TSB ≥450 µmol/L, ratio of conjugated to TSB <0.30, gestational age ≥35 weeks, and postnatal age ≤4 weeks, using Danish hospitals’ laboratory databases.

Result

We included 408 infants. The incidence of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among infants with gestational age ≥35 weeks was 42/100,000 during the study period with a seemingly decreasing incidence between 2005 and 2015. Twelve of the 408 infants developed KSD, (incidence 1.2/100,000) Blood type ABO isohemolytic disease was the most common explanatory etiology.

Conclusions

Our study stresses the importance of a systematic approach to neonatal jaundice and ongoing surveillance of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and KSD.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all biochemical, pediatric, radiological, and audiological departments throughout Denmark for their great help in collecting the material.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    Mette Line Donneborg, Pernille Kure Vandborg & Finn Ebbesen

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Mette Line Donneborg & Finn Ebbesen

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Bo Moelholm Hansen

  4. Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    María Rodrigo-Domingo

  5. Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    María Rodrigo-Domingo

Authors
  1. Mette Line Donneborg
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  2. Bo Moelholm Hansen
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  5. Finn Ebbesen
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Correspondence to Mette Line Donneborg.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics

The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency, 2008-58-0028/ 2016-71, and the Danish Health Authority, 3-3013-1624/1.

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Donneborg, M.L., Hansen, B.M., Vandborg, P.K. et al. Extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus spectrum disorder in Denmark during the years 2000–2015. J Perinatol 40, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0566-8

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