Auditory neuropathy in hyperbilirubinemia: is there a correlation between serum bilirubin, neuron-specific enolase levels and auditory neuropathy?

Abstract

This study evaluated whether a correlation exists between increased serum bilirubin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) assays (a biochemical index of neuronal damage) and auditory neuropathy. Nineteen term neonates without hemolysis whose serum bilirubin levels were above 20 mg/dl and 27 healthy term newborns with bilirubin levels <13 mg/dl were included in the study. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) of patients with hyperbilirubinemia were obtained before discharge. This preliminary study did not show any correlation between the serum NSE and bilirubin values. However, infants who had auditory neuropathy had significantly higher NSE levels, and thus these patients, being in the high-risk group, need close follow-up.

Sumario

Este estudio evala cu ndo existe una correlacin entre la bilirrubina s rica aumentada y los niveles neuronaespecficos de enolasa (NSE) (un índice bioqumico de da o neuronal) con la neuropata auditiva. Diez y nueve neonatos a t rmino sin hemlisis, cuya bilirrubina s rica estuvo por arriba de 20 mg/dl y 27 neonatos de trmino sanos, con niveles de bilirrubina de <13 mg/dl, se incluyeron en este estudio. Las respuestas auditivas del tallo cerebral (ABRs) y las emisiones otoac sticas evocadas por transitorios (TEOAEs) de los pacientes con hiperbilirrubinemia se obtuvieron despus del alta hospitalaria. Este estudio preliminar no mostró ninguna correlacin entre la NSE en suero y los valores de bilirrubina. No obstante, los ni os que tuvieron neuropata auditiva presentaron niveles NSE significativamente mayores por lo que esos pacientes, estando en el grupo de alto riesgo, requieren un seguimiento m s cercano.

• Hyperbilirubinemia
• Neuron-specific enolase
• Auditory brainstem response
• Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions