Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study

Abstract Background Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a quick, reliable and painless method to guide management of hyperbilirubinemia. Studies in term and late preterm infants have found that TcB measurements from covered areas (TcB-C) during phototherapy (PHT) co-relate well with ser...

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Main Authors: Vidit Bhargava, Daniel Tawfik, Bruce Niebuhr, Sunil K. Jain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-07-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1207-7
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author Vidit Bhargava
Daniel Tawfik
Bruce Niebuhr
Sunil K. Jain
author_facet Vidit Bhargava
Daniel Tawfik
Bruce Niebuhr
Sunil K. Jain
author_sort Vidit Bhargava
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a quick, reliable and painless method to guide management of hyperbilirubinemia. Studies in term and late preterm infants have found that TcB measurements from covered areas (TcB-C) during phototherapy (PHT) co-relate well with serum bilirubin levels. Limited data exists in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Methods In this prospective observational study, an opaque patch was placed on the back of an ELBW infant prior to initiation of PHT. TcB-C and TcB-E (TcB from exposed area) levels were measured at birth and at 24-h intervals for 5 days. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were also measured within 30 min of obtaining TcB levels. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis. A mixed effect model was used to adjust for repeated measurements over time. The p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 19 infants were enrolled in the study, with a mean gestational age of 26 ± 2 weeks and mean weight 827 ± 127 g. The difference between TcB-C and TSB was 2.68 ± 2.41 mg/dl (mean ± SD, p <  0.001). In contrast, the difference between TcB-E and TSB was − 0.51 ± 1.74 mg/dl (p = 0.02). TcB-C consistently overestimates TSB, while TcB-E consistently underestimates TSB. Conclusions During PHT exposure, TcB-C does not correlate with TSB values in ELBW infants. TcB-C levels cannot be used as a surrogate for TSB measurement in ELBW infants.
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spelling doaj.art-e7e48ab2c41245c081a960f48e90913e2022-12-21T18:42:57ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312018-07-011811510.1186/s12887-018-1207-7Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational studyVidit Bhargava0Daniel Tawfik1Bruce Niebuhr2Sunil K. Jain3Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Lucile Salter Packard Children’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Lucile Salter Packard Children’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical BranchDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Texas Medical BranchAbstract Background Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a quick, reliable and painless method to guide management of hyperbilirubinemia. Studies in term and late preterm infants have found that TcB measurements from covered areas (TcB-C) during phototherapy (PHT) co-relate well with serum bilirubin levels. Limited data exists in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Methods In this prospective observational study, an opaque patch was placed on the back of an ELBW infant prior to initiation of PHT. TcB-C and TcB-E (TcB from exposed area) levels were measured at birth and at 24-h intervals for 5 days. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were also measured within 30 min of obtaining TcB levels. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis. A mixed effect model was used to adjust for repeated measurements over time. The p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 19 infants were enrolled in the study, with a mean gestational age of 26 ± 2 weeks and mean weight 827 ± 127 g. The difference between TcB-C and TSB was 2.68 ± 2.41 mg/dl (mean ± SD, p <  0.001). In contrast, the difference between TcB-E and TSB was − 0.51 ± 1.74 mg/dl (p = 0.02). TcB-C consistently overestimates TSB, while TcB-E consistently underestimates TSB. Conclusions During PHT exposure, TcB-C does not correlate with TSB values in ELBW infants. TcB-C levels cannot be used as a surrogate for TSB measurement in ELBW infants.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1207-7HyperbilirubinemiaELBWKernicterusTranscutaneous bilirubinometry
spellingShingle Vidit Bhargava
Daniel Tawfik
Bruce Niebuhr
Sunil K. Jain
Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
BMC Pediatrics
Hyperbilirubinemia
ELBW
Kernicterus
Transcutaneous bilirubinometry
title Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
title_full Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
title_fullStr Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
title_full_unstemmed Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
title_short Transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy: a prospective observational study
title_sort transcutaneous bilirubin estimation in extremely low birth weight infants receiving phototherapy a prospective observational study
topic Hyperbilirubinemia
ELBW
Kernicterus
Transcutaneous bilirubinometry
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1207-7
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AT bruceniebuhr transcutaneousbilirubinestimationinextremelylowbirthweightinfantsreceivingphototherapyaprospectiveobservationalstudy
AT sunilkjain transcutaneousbilirubinestimationinextremelylowbirthweightinfantsreceivingphototherapyaprospectiveobservationalstudy