Factors Affecting Bilirubin Levels during First 48 Hours of Life in Healthy Infants

WOS: 000320553900001PubMed ID: 23841060Objective. To investigate the relationship of delivery type, maternal anesthesia, feeding modalities, and first feeding and meconium passage times with early bilirubin levels of healthy infants. Methods. Cord, 24 hours' and 48 hours' total bilirubin levels were measured in 388 study infants. Results. Infants born with cesarean section were fed later and more often had mixed feeding. First meconium passage was delayed with general anesthesia. Cord, 24 and 48 hours' bilirubin levels were not correlated with first feeding time, meconium passage time, mode of delivery, existence and type of anesthesia, and feeding modalities. Being in high intermediate risk zone at 72 hours of Bhutani's nomogram was only related to first feeding time and high cord bilirubin level. Late preterm infants were more frequently born with cesarean section and offered supplementary formula. Therefore, first meconium passage times and bilirubin levels were similar in the late preterm and term infants. Conclusions. Type of delivery or anesthesia, late prematurity, feeding modalities, and first meconium passage time were not related to early bilirubin levels in healthy neonates, but delayed first feeding and high cord bilirubin levels were related to be in higher risk zone for later hyperbilirubinemia

Reference values of anthropometric measurements in healthy late preterm and term infants

WOS: 000441766000024PubMed ID: 30119594Background/aim: Geographical distribution, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors may affect anthropometric measurements, and for that reason each society should determine their own measurements accounting for those factors. In this study, we aimed to determine the anthropometric measurements of healthy late preterm and term infants to compare the results with other national and international studies. Materials and methods: This sectional study was carried out among 1197 infants born with a gestational age of 35 weeks. Chest circumference, ear length, foot length, palmar length, middle finger length, philtrum distance, inner and outer canthal distances, and palpebral fissure length were measured in the first 24 h of life. Results: All measurements of late preterm infants were smaller than those of term infants (P < 0.05). Compared with male infants, the chest circumference, ear length, foot length, pahnar length, philtrum distance, and inner canthal distances of the female infants were lower (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between male and female infants' middle finger length, outer canthal distance, and palpebral fissure length measurements. Percentile values for all measurements of 35-42-week male and female infants were described. Condusion: These measurements of male and female infants born between 35 and 42 weeks may be useful for early detection of syndromes by detecting anatomical abnormalities in our population

Desferrioxamine treatment of iron overload secondary to RH isoimmunization and intrauterine transfusion in a newborn infant

WOS: 000298655800015PubMed ID: 21735053Intrauterine transfusion is the standard of care in the management of severe Rh isoimmunization. Desferrioxamine has been used for the treatment of iron overload secondary to hemolysis and intrauterine transfusions in Rh isoimmunization cases. Here, we report a preterm infant born at 34 weeks of gestational age who had formerly received intrauterine transfusions for Rhesus hemolytic disease and presented with severe hyperferritinemia and elevated liver enzymes in the first week of life. Desferrioxamine treatment was started due to a ferritin level of 28,800 ng/ml and continued for 13 weeks. Although the treatment was successful, we observed resistant leukopenia which resolved after the cessation of treatment. In conclusion, iron overload secondary to intrauterine transfusions can be treated successfully with desferrioxamine; however, neonatologists must be aware of the possible side effects of this drug which has been used in only a limited number of newborns