Utility of cord blood albumin as a predictor of significant neonatal jaundice in healthy term newborns

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : October-December 2015 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 4

DOI : 10.7199/ped.oncall.2015.66

Utility of Cord Blood Albumin as a Predictor of Significant Neonatal Jaundice in Healthy Term Newborns

Jitendra Kumar Meena, Surjeet Singh, Chaman Ram Verma, Rambabu Sharma.
Department of Pediatric Medicine, S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Abstract

Aim: To study the association between cord blood albumin level and subsequent development of significant neonatal jaundice (NNJ) in healthy term newborns.
Methods and Materials: A prospective study was done in 100 sequentially born healthy term babies (gestational age > 37 weeks) of either gender, from any mode of delivery, with any birth weight, Apgar score ≥7 at first and fifth minutes of life, without ABO and Rh incompatibility. They were divided into 3 groups A, B, and C according to cord blood albumin levels < 2.8 gm/dl, 2.8-3.3 gm/dl and >3.3 gm/dl respectively and then followed clinically for jaundice upto day 5 of life or till hospital stay whichever was later. Wherever necessary further laboratory tests were done and baby managed accordingly.
Results: Group A, B, and C had 22, 34, and 44 newborns respectively. In group A, 21 (95.5%) neonates developed jaundice, of which 18 (81.8%) required phototherapy and 2 (9.1%) needed exchange transfusion; whereas 27 (79.4%) neonates in group B developed jaundice, of which 9 (26.6%) needed phototherapy and none required exchange transfusion. In group C 16 (36.6%) developed jaundice of which 1 (2.4%) required phototherapy and none of them required exchange transfusion (p value <0.001).
Conclusion: Umbilical cord serum albumin levels are useful in predicting subsequent neonatal jaundice in healthy term newborns. Neonates with cord blood albumin levels > 3.3 gm/dl are probably safe for early discharge whereas neonates with albumin levels <3.3 gm/dl will need a close follow up to check for development of jaundice.

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Authors

Jitendra Kumar Meena
[Google Scholar] [Pubmed]
Surjeet Singh
[Google Scholar] [Pubmed]
Chaman Ram Verma
[Google Scholar] [Pubmed]
Rambabu Sharma
[Google Scholar] [Pubmed]

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Cite this article as

Meena J K, Singh S, Verma C R, Sharma R. Utility of Cord Blood Albumin as a Predictor of Significant Neonatal Jaundice in Healthy Term Newborns. Pediatr Oncall J. 2015;12: 99-102. doi: 10.7199/ped.oncall.2015.66