41 FOLLOW-UP AT FIVE YEARS OF AGE OF JAUNDICED PREMATURE INFANTS

Abstract

Very few studies have reported data on the extent to which increased serum levels of bilirubin might be associated with long-term developmental impairment in premature infants. The aim of this investigation was to perform a follow-up at 5 years of age of 30 low-birth-weight infants (range birth weight: 670-1.890 g; range gestational age: 25-33 wKs.) with a clinically significant hyperbilirubinemia (peak total serum bilirubin >11 mg/dl; mean ± S.D.: 15.5 ± 4.2 mg/dl) in the first four days of life. We evaluated the possible relationships between numerous risk factors, related or not to neonatal jaundici and the long-term neuromental outcome. The selected parameters were cross-tabulated and correlated, even combinated with the maximum serum bilirubin level, to the long-term outcome. Twentyfour (80%) of these children had normal neuromotor and mental development. Six subjects were affected by cerebral palsy and one had also a mild intellectual handicap. Only the concurren presence of one or more diseases (x2:6 .8125) and the number of exchange transfusions (x2:4.2500) significantly correlated to the presence of neurological sequelae at five years of age. In conclusion we failed to reveal any significant relations between risk factors, such as the maximum serum bilirubin level or the length of times of bilirubin above 11 mg/dl and of phototherapy exposure, and neuromental outcome at 5 years of age in a group of premature infants.