Permeability of cerebral vessels to albumin in hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract
The effects of a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood on the blood-brain barrier was studied in 21 experimental and 12 control newborn animals. Radioactive iodinated albumin was used to study the permeability of cerebral vessels. Hyperbilirubinemia disturbs the normal function of the blood-brain barrier possibly by acting as an enzyme inhibitor. This increases the permeability of the cerebral blood vessels. A species difference exists among rabbits, puppies and kittens.