RESUMO
To identify the beneficial role of bilirubin as an antioxidant, this study was carried out on 44 sick neonates suffering form respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, meconium aspiration and birth asphyxia; in addition to 11 healthy ones as controls. The results showed that the mean values of total bilirubin levels in controls [4.4 +/- 0.3], [9.1 +/- 0.5] and [12.8 +/- 10.7 mg/dl] in 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of life respectively, were significantly higher than [3.9 +/- 1.1], [6.3 +/- 1.5] and [8.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dl] values observed in sick group in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of life respectively, The rate of serum bilirubin rise was 4.2 mg/dl/day in control group which was significantly higher than [2-2 mg/dl /day] in sick group- The serum lipid peroxide in controls [14.5 - +/- 1.3 nmul/ml] was significantly lower than [19.3 + /-1,05] n mol/ml in sick group. The serum lipid peroxide correlated negatively with the rate of bilirubin rise. We can conclude that jaundice is not simply an accumulation of a potentially toxic waste product but may serve a beneficial role in providing high concentration of a free radical absorbing antioxidant