ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the significance of serum prealbumin, bilirubin/albumin( B/A )ratio and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP)for early predicting the bilirubinic neurotoxicity caused by early neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Methods According to the gestational age, birth weight and the intervention criterion of neonatal jaundice, 94 neonates (newborn infants with a age of 1-7days) with hyperbilirubinemia were divided into two groups, one was term neonates with normal BAEP, the other was term neonates with abnormal BAEP. We detected their serum levels of total bilirubine, prealbumin, BAEP and calculated B/A ratio. Result The prealbumin levels was significantly lower and B/A ratio was higher in group of abnormal BAEP than those of control group ( P < 0. 01 ), while the levels of total bilirubin were not significantly different between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ). In group of abnormal BAEP , there was a negative correlation between the level of serum prealbumin and the B/A ratio (r = -0. 637, P <0. 01 ). Conclution Prealbumin may be a sensitive indicator for early predicting bilirubinic toxicity like B/A ratio and BAEP.