Cord Blood Albumin as a Predictor of Neonatal Jaundice

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice is a very common condition worldwide occurring in up to 60% of term and 80% of preterm newborns in the first week of life. Even though extreme hyperbilirubinemia is rare in developed countries it is still quite rife in developing countries often resulting in kernicterus with its attendant medical, economic and social burden on the patient, family and society. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of umbilical cord blood albumin level for subsequent neonatal jaundice in healthy full-term neonates. Patients and Methods: The current study was carried out in the Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University Hospital. The study was conducted on 100 healthy full-term newborn after obtaining consent from parents. Cord blood was collected at birth and cord blood albumin estimation was done. Results: The incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in our study (64%). In terms of demographic data: males represented (32.5 %) of the jaundiced cases in the study and females represented (62.5 %); the difference was statistically insignificant (P value 0.325). Cord serum albumin level of (> 3.3) g/dl has a sensitivity of (86%) and specificity of (80%), PPV (81%), NPV of (85%) and the accuracy rate was (83 %) in predicting neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusion: There is significant correlation between cord serum albumin level and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in healthy full-term neonates ≥ 2.5 kg birth weight and that serum albumin level taken from the blood of the umbilical cord is an effective way to predict neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in term healthy infants.