PRENATAL FACTORS FOR NEONATAL JAUNDICE

Abstract

Objective: To establish the role of prenatal factors for neonatal jaundice (NJ) in newborns (NB). Material and methods: Retrospective study covering 566 mothers and their newborns, patients of University Hospital Medica Ruse, Bulgaria, from 01.01.2017 to 31.10.2020. The data were obtained from the documentation of the mother. Bilirubin (BR) levels were monitored by transcutaneous measurement with a KJ-8000 bilirubinometer . Results: Significantly higher levels of BR are registered in NBs, whose mothers aged ≤20 years. History of NJ in siblings and hyperbilirubinemia in subsequent NB are moderately strongly correlated (p=0.025). First-born infants have significantly lower BR levels (p=0.037). The BR levels of NBs whose mothers were at risk of premature birth were significantly higher. In infants of mothers with Preeclampsia, lower levels of BR are registered. We found a negative linear relationship between thyroid gland pathology and BR levels. We found a positive relationship between maternal urinary tract pathology and the manifestation of hyperbilirubinemia in NBs. A negative correlation was observed between maternal anemic conditions and NB hyperbilirubinemia. NBs of mothers with inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system have significantly higher levels of BR. Conclusion: Prenatal factors influencing NJ are maternal parity and age, as well as a history of jaundice in siblings. Inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system affect the degree of bilirubinemia, pathology of the urinary system increases its frequency. Well-controlled thyroid function and balanced iron supplementation in pregnant women help to better balance the metabolism of BR in full-term NBs. Preeclampsia diminishes the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in full-term infants.