European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is the most common morbidity in normal term healthy
newborn. There is evidence that cord blood albumin (CBA) level can act as a potential marker
for the prediction of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. The present study was therefore designed
to establish a correlation between the level of cord blood albumin (CBA) and total serum
bilirubin (TSB) so that albumin level could be standardized as a prediction marker for the
neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Methods: CBA and TSB levels were analysed in 500 normal term healthy newborns with birth
weight ≥2500 grams and APGAR score ≥ 7/10 at 1 min and 5 mins, after obtaining consent
from their parents. Albumin levels were analysed from the cord blood at the time of birth and
TSB levels were analysed from venous blood. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to
analyse the correlation between CBA and TSB levels.
Results: The mean CBA was 2.94 ± 0.34 g/dl and mean TSB was 11.17 ± 2.52 mg/dl. The
relationship between CBA and TSB values was statistically significant on further analysis of
CBA with the modality of treatment, the results were again statistically significant. The
correlation between CBA and TSB was also observed with negative correlation of r = - 0.43
with p value of <0.0001 which was highly significant.
Conclusion: Newborns with high CBA levels have low risk of developing neonatal
hyperbilirubinemia and can be discharged early from hospital. Whereas low CBA is an
indicator for developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the first week of life.