The Possible Protective Role of Bilirubin on Oxidative Stress Related Morbidity in Preterm Infants

Abstract

Aims:

To evaluate the effect of bilirubin levels in the first week of life on the frequency of oxidative-stress related morbidity.

Methods:

We included all preterm infants with a gestational age less than 32 weeks. The mean total serum bilirubin of the first week of life was measured and compared between infants with and without oxidative stress related morbidity.

Results:

A total of 116 preterm infants were included. Univariate analysis showed that mean ± SD TSB levels were statistically significantly lower in infants with chronic lung disease (95 ± 31.4micromole/l vs 119 ± 31micromole/l, p = 0.019), necrotizing enterocolitis (94.4 ± 29micromole/l vs 118 ± 31micromole/l p = 0.044) and patent ductus arteriosus (104 ± 33micromole/l vs 120 ± 30micromole/l p = 0.018). However, when adjusted for gestational age, there were no longer statistically significant differences observed.

Conclusion:

Elevated bilirubin levels in the first week of life are not protective against the oxidative stress related morbidity in very preterm infants.

Keywords:

• Hyperbilirubinemia
• jaundice
• preterm infants
• oxidative stress
• morbidity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

The research ethics committee of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (Study No.3-2017) approved the study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study. 

Table 1. Baseline characteristics.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.