Neonatal jaundice or is a common medical problem in newborns. Serum billirubin level is the gold standard for identifying neonates with increased risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia, but the procedure needs venipuncture which is painful and may result in skin infection of the newborns. Equipment for transcutaneous bilirubin level measurement (TCB) is effective to screen for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia but the equipment was very expensive. Digital photography and evaluation by computer program was reported to be useful for screening of neonatal jaundice.
Purpose:
To study the correlation between serum microbilirubin level (SMB), transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TCB) and digital photo graphic yellow level (DPYL) in evaluation of neonatal jaundice.
Methods:
This research was approved by Committee on Human Related to Research Involving Human Subjects, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University on 21th January 2015. Forty two newborns born in Ramathibodi Hospital were recruited during 15 August 2015 – 31 October 2015. At 48 hours or more after birth, serum microbilirubin were measured and recorded. TCB was also evaluated by using JM 103 bilirubinometer at the chest of the newborn and the value were recorded. Digital photograph was also taken at the chest of the newborn and the yellow levels of the newborn skin were analyzed by using the PhotoshopÒ computer program.Serum microbilirubin levels and TCB at the chests of the newborns were determined at more than 24 hours after birth. Digital photographs was taken at the chests of the newborns and were analyzed by using PhotoshopÒ computer program to determine the yellowish level of neonatal skin. The results of 3 methods were compared. Statistics for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and linear regression analysis were used for hypothesis testing with the significant level at p < 0.05.
Results:
The mean serum microbilirubin level was 12.07±1.649 mg/dl. There was a good correlation between SMB and TCB (r2=0.761), between SMB and DPYL (r2=0.766) and between TCB and DPYL (r2=0.935).
Conclusion:
Yellow level (DPYL) estimation correlated well with SMB and TCB. Digital photographic can be used to determine the jaundice level in newborns and can be used as a screening test for neonatal jaundice especially in places where resoures are limited.