Advances in Prediction of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia severity Using Cord Blood Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract

Background: Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is the most common cause of hospital admissions and readmissions among the  newborns. The study aimed to evaluate weather levels of hydrogen peroxide in cord blood can be used to confirm the predictive warning  sign of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and identify which babies require follow-up leaving the hospital.

Methods: a cross-sectional study involved 30 healthy neonates. They were classified into two groups according to bilirubin level at the 5th day: less severe hyperbilirubinemia with a bilirubin level ≤ 17 mg/dl and severe hyperbilirubinemia with a bilirubin level > 17 mg/dl. Measurement of  hydrogen peroxide in cord blood, at birth, and on the third and fifth days of life by colorimetric method was done.

Results: in our study  show that at the cutoff point of cord blood hydrogen peroxide ≥2.685 uMol/L, sensitivity was 90.0%, specificity was 83.3%, predicted  values (both positive and negative) were 78.3% and 92.6%, positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.4 and 0.12, and accuracy was  86.0%.

Conclusions: The levels of cord hydrogen peroxide and further sampling were considerably greater in neonates with severe  hyperbilirubinemia. It is therefore possible to identify a subset of newborns who may be at risk of jaundice and require phototherapy or  exchange at delivery by measuring the amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the umbilical cord blood.