Introduction Print Section Listen As noted in several other chapters in this book, bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus are still occurring throughout the world with population-based estimates of incidence in North…

Global Scope of Neonatal Jaundice and Associated Disabilities Print Section Listen For the most part, in the developed world, neonatal jaundice occurs without significant morbidity and/or mortality due to early…

Introduction Print Section Listen Excessive newborn hyperbilirubinemia can cause permanent brain damage, that is, chronic bilirubin encephalopathy (BE), also known as kernicterus. The effort to understand and treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia…

Introduction Print Section Listen In order to develop an approach to the diagnosis and management of the jaundiced newborn, it is necessary to understand the nonpathologic factors that can affect…

Bilirubin Production in the Fetus and Newborn Print Section Listen Development of Bilirubin Production by Heme Catabolism Bilirubin is formed in the organism by oxidation–reduction reactions. It is the end…

Introduction Print Section Listen Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and resultant jaundice are common,1,2 affecting up to ˜80% of newborns.1 Although generally a benign postnatal transitional phenomenon, a select number of infants develop…

Bilirubin Production and Its Measurement: Introduction Print Section Listen Neonatal jaundice is one of the first and perhaps the most common problem encountered by the practicing pediatrician. It is a…

Transport of Bilirubin: An Overview Print Section Listen Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), the principal mammalian bile pigment, is the end intravascular product of heme catabolism. Like many weakly polar, poorly soluble…

Introduction Print Section Listen In the human fetus, as in the adult, biliverdin-IXα and any small amounts of non-IXα isomers that are formed are reduced to the corresponding bilirubins. Of…