Clinical Significance of the Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry as Screening Test for Prediction of the Early Neonatal Jaundice

Kim, Jong Wan; Choi, Young Hwan; Cha, Jae Kook; Ryoo, Ki Yang

Abstract

The authors evaluated the clinical significance of the bilirubin values as screening test means for predicting the occurrence of neonatal jaundice earlier after birth, by using the transcutaneous bilirubinometry which is known to measure the bilirubin values in a noninvasive, accurate and simple way. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In comparison between the test group(showing the symptom of a jaundice within 72 hours after birth) and the control group, there were found no statistically significant differences in terms of sex, delivery type, birth weight, gestational age and mother's age, while being found statistically significant differences in terms of transcutaneous bilirubin at birth(TcBbirth), transcutaneous bilirubin at 24 hours after birth(TcB24hr), increase in transcutaneous bilirubin per hour during the first 24 hours after birth(TcBin/hr) and transcutaneous bilirubin at 72 hours after birth(TcB72hr)(p<0,05). 2. The correlation test using the Pearson's coefficient produced statistically significant correlationship between each transcutaneous bilirubin index (TcBbirth, TcB24hr, TcBin/hr and TcB72hr) and serum bilirubin concentration at 72 hours after birth(B72hr)(p<0.05), while the result of the correlation test using the Spearman's roh showed statistically significant correlationship only between TcB24hr or TcB72hr and B72hr(p<0.05). As it was, the correlationship between TcB72hr and B72hr was highest in both Pearsons coefficient and Spearman's roh tests, followed by that between TcB24hr and B72hr. 3. In view of the ROC graph, the most effective means of predicting the occurrence of the neonatal jaundice was TcB72hr followed by TcB24hr, TcBbirth and TcBin/hr in their order. In particular, TcB24hr was conceived to be useful as screening test for determining an early discharge from the nursery within 48 hours. On the other hand, since the negative predictive value of TcBbirth, and TcB24hr is higher, the possibility that those infants showing a lower value of these indices may well be free later from a serious neonatal jaundice even if they should be discharged earlier from the nursery. In conclusion, those four indices predicting the neonatal jaundice in a simple, quick and noninvasive manner using the transcutaneous bilirubinometry were considered to be effective screening test means whereby any serious neonatal jaundice developed earlier after delivery can be successfully predicted.