[Hyperbilirubinemia in normal neonates].

In a group of 13,449 neonates with a birth weight of 2500 g or more and without an incompatible constellation with the mothers in the Rh and ABO system in 17.7% of the children a rise od serum bilirubin above 205 mumol/l was found and 5.3% of the children were treated by phototherapy. The frequency of hyperbilirubinaemias and phototherapy in the course of the ten-year investigation rose significantly. Among neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia and those having phototherapy boys predominate significantly. The development of serum bilirubin levels differs as to the course, maximum value and period of the peak and suggests that also in normal mature neonates the rate of adaptation of the bilirubin metabolism displays great individual variations.