Abstract

Neonatal jaundice is the most common problem encountered in newborns and is universal. Development of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates is fretful for the parents and a concern for the pediatrician too.To assess the predictive value of cord blood bilirubin and albumin in identifying healthy term babies at risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia; TO establish cut off values of cord blood Bilirubin and Albumin to identify healthy term newborn babies at risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia; To assess the prevalence of Significantneonatal hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term babies. Methods:A prospective study was carried out in the Department of biochemistry, Andhra medical college, King George Hospital Visakhapatnam from September 2020 to August 2021with prior approval from Instituitional Scientific and Ethics Committee. A pre designated Proforma has aided the enrolment of the newborns into the study. Results:The present study included 60 term healthy newborn babies born at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam during the period September 2020 to August 2021.The mean cord blood bilirubin level is 1.8 with a range of 0.2 to 3.1 and the mean cord blood albumin level is 3.1 with a range of 2.1 to 4.1. Conclusion:Cord blood bilirubin > 1.85 mg/dl, cord blood albumin < 3.05 mg/dl and cord blood bilirubin albumin ratio > 0.59 were found to have good predictive value in identifying newborns who are likely to develop neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Newborns who are at higher risk of developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can be identified using the above criteria and thus can be followed up and treated vigorously to avoid dangerous complications like Kernicterus.New borns who are at low risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia can be identified as well and can be discharged early, thus avoiding unnecessary economic and psycho-social burden on the parents and the risk of hospital acquired infection in the babies

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