Feasibility analysis of TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB as outcome measures for dynamic assessment during phototherapy of neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hyperbilirubinemia (HY) is a common condition in neonates that requires phototherapy treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements (TCB), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and unconjugated bilirubin (UCB)/albumin (ALB) as indicators of HY during neonatal phototherapy. A research group of 67 neonates with pathological HY and a control group of 55 healthy neonates were selected from a hospital between June 2020 and May 2021. TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB tests were performed before, during (at 3 days of treatment), and after (at 6 days of treatment) phototherapy in the research group and at admission in the control group. The study also included a 1-year prognostic follow-up on the research group. The study observed the difference in TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB test results between both groups and their assessment effect on adverse reactions, treatment effects, and poor prognosis in phototherapy. TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB levels were higher in the research group than in the control group and gradually decreased during phototherapy (P < 0.05). The combined TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB assay had 100.0% sensitivity and 64.58% specificity (P < 0.001) for predicting adverse reactions, 88.24% sensitivity and 80.00% specificity (P < 0.001) for predicting the effect of phototherapy, and 90.91% sensitivity and 88.89% specificity (P < 0.001) for predicting poor prognosis. The combined TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB assay showed superior assessment of adverse effects, clinical outcomes, and poor prognosis in HY neonates treated with phototherapy. TCB, hs-CRP, and UCB/ALB could be used as dynamic disease assessment indicators for HY to better prevent and treat the occurrence of HY.