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

ABSTRACT

Background: The aim is to study the association between cord blood albumin level and subsequent development of significant neonatal jaundice (NNJ) in healthy term newborns.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 106 term healthy neonates. Genders, gestational age, mode of delivery were taken into consideration. It was ascertained that there was no other risk factor for hyperbilirubinemia amongst the neonates. The neonates were divided into two groups based on cord blood albumin level of <3.2gm/dl and >3.2gm/dl.Results: Out of the 106 babies included in the study, 44 babies were under group A (<3.2mg/dl) and 62 babies were under group B(>3.2mg/dl). 24 babies (55%) in group A and 16 babies (26%) in group B developed clinical icterus of which 16(66.6%) in group A and 4(25%) in group B required phototherapy. There was no significant difference between the cases who did and who did not develop significant neonatal jaundice with respect to various factor such as type of delivery, gender and meconium stain liquor.Conclusions: Cord albumin levels help to determine and predict the possibility of hyperbilirubinemia among neonates. Hence this can help to identify the at-risk neonates. So routine determination of cord albumin can be advocated to keep a track on at risk neonates.