Extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus spectrum disorder in Denmark during the years 2000–2015

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  • Mette Line Donneborg
  • Hansen, Bo Mølholm
  • Pernille Kure Vandborg
  • María Rodrigo-Domingo
  • Finn Ebbesen

Objective: To determine the incidence and etiology of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥450 µmol/L, and kernicterus spectrum disorder (KSD) in Denmark between 2000 and 2015. Study design: We identified all infants born between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2015 with TSB ≥450 µmol/L, ratio of conjugated to TSB <0.30, gestational age ≥35 weeks, and postnatal age ≤4 weeks, using Danish hospitals’ laboratory databases. Result: We included 408 infants. The incidence of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among infants with gestational age ≥35 weeks was 42/100,000 during the study period with a seemingly decreasing incidence between 2005 and 2015. Twelve of the 408 infants developed KSD, (incidence 1.2/100,000) Blood type ABO isohemolytic disease was the most common explanatory etiology. Conclusions: Our study stresses the importance of a systematic approach to neonatal jaundice and ongoing surveillance of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and KSD.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Perinatology
Volume40
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)194-202
Number of pages9
ISSN0743-8346
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

ID: 261109890