[The effect of human albumin in association with intensive phototherapy in the management of neonatal jaundice].

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of phototherapy in lowering serum bilirubin levels in neonates varies inversely with the rate and degree of hemolysis. Combining this therapy with albumin perfusion could enhance its effectiveness. This study examines total, unconjugated and unbound fractions of bilirubin in infants treated by phototherapy alone or by phototherapy plus albumin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The files of 211 neonates treated from January 1990 to March 1991 for severe neonatal jaundice were analysed. Jaundice was due to ABO incompatibility in 113 cases and hereditary hemolytic anemia in 6 cases; its cause was unknown in 92 patients. Other causes of jaundice such as Rh incompatibility, premature delivery before 34 gestational weeks and neonatal infections were excluded from the study. All 211 neonates were given phototherapy from admission with similar light energy. 114 babies (group I) received only phototherapy, while the 97 others (group II) were also given human albumin, (1.5 g/kg), during the first 2 hours of phototherapy.

RESULTS

The decrease in serum unconjugated and unbound bilirubin after 4 hours of phototherapy was 34% in group I and 45% in group II (p < 0.0005). There was no difference between both groups after 24 hours of phototherapy. Other factors such as the initial concentration of serum unconjugated and unbound bilirubin, age at the onset of therapy, and ethnic skin color also influenced the decrease in bilirubin after 4 and 24 hours of phototherapy, in addition to albumin perfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Albumin perfusion plus phototherapy appears to induce a rapid and early decrease in unconjugated, unbound bilirubin, the fraction that is potentially neurotoxic, while phototherapy alone acts over a longer period.