[Transcutaneous measurement of the severity of icterus and bilirubinemia in normal neonates]. / Transkutánní merení intenzity ikteru a bilirubinémie fyziologických novorozencu.

Using a Minolta/Air Shields apparatus, the authors made 1040 transcutaneous estimations of the intensity of jaundice and examined at the same time the serum bilirubin in 603 normal mature neonates. They revealed a significant (P less than 0.001) correlation between the results of this estimation on the sternum and bilirubinaemia (r = 0.75). Based on the assessment of the 95% confidence limit of prediction of linear regression the authors defined and confirmed by statistical calculations for bilirubinaemia values of 200, 250 and 300 mumol/l four grades of intensity of jaundice. By the suggested procedure omission of early indication of laboratory examination and phototherapy is reduced to a minimum and conversely it is possible to avoid in some neonates collection of blood samples for laboratory examination.

[Alpha-fetoprotein in umbilical cord blood and hyperbilirubinemia in normal neonates]. / Alfa-fetoprotein v pupecníkové krvi a hyperbilirubinémie fyziologických novorozencu.

In a group of 154 mature normal neonates the authors recorded significantly higher mean alpha-fetoprotein values in children with hyperbilirubinaemia (higher than 205 mumol/l) than in other neonates. The differences were observed also in children of equal gestation age. Development of hyperbilirubinaemia is more probable and indication for phototherapy is significantly higher in neonates with alpha-fetoprotein levels in umbilical blood above 100 mg/l and these infants must be carefully observed. When the concentration is above 130 mg/l, the development of hyperbilirubinaemia may be assumed with certainty. Examination of alpha-fetoprotein in umbilical blood is an useful indicator of the functional maturity of the liver, but does not ensure reliable prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia in individual neonates. A concentration of alpha-fetoprotein above 100 mg/l is exceptional among neonates without hyperbilirubinaemia, while lower values do not rule out the development of hyperbilirubinaemia.

[Results of phototherapy in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using green and blue light]. / Výsledky fototerapie novorozeneckých hyperbilirubinémií zeleným a modrým svetlem.

In a group of normal newborns with birth weights of 2500 g and more treated on account of hyperbilirubinaemia the authors recorded a significantly shorter period of decline of serum bilirubin in 40 children with blue light phototherapy than in 40 children with green light phototherapy. The period of decline of bilirubinaemia with green light phototherapy did not differ on average from the period of spontaneous decline recorded in a group of 40 normal neonates with untreated hyperbilirubinaemia.

[Hyperbilirubinemia in normal neonates]. / Hyperbilirubinémie fyziologických novorozencu.

In a group of 13,449 neonates with a birth weight of 2500 g or more and without an incompatible constellation with the mothers in the Rh and ABO system in 17.7% of the children a rise od serum bilirubin above 205 mumol/l was found and 5.3% of the children were treated by phototherapy. The frequency of hyperbilirubinaemias and phototherapy in the course of the ten-year investigation rose significantly. Among neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia and those having phototherapy boys predominate significantly. The development of serum bilirubin levels differs as to the course, maximum value and period of the peak and suggests that also in normal mature neonates the rate of adaptation of the bilirubin metabolism displays great individual variations.