THE RELATION OF SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF BILIRUBIN TO RESPIRATORY FUNCTION OF PREMATURE INFANTS

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Abstract
This study showed that in infants weighing less than 1750 gm at birth the concentration of bilirubin in the serum rose higher and reached a peak a little later than in premature infants weighing more than 1750 gm. Infants whose respiratory rates increased significantly after the first hour and who were therefore classified as Group III, had concentrations of bilirubin in the serum which were significantly higher than those of other infants in the study. This difference did not appear to be accounted for on the basis of differences in birth weight alone. Twenty per cent of the infants in Group III developed concentrations of bilirubin in the serum in excess of 14.0 mg/100 ml. No infant in groups I and II developed concentrations of bilirubin greater than 14.0 mg/100 ml. These studies indicate that classification of premature infants according to the trend of the respiratory rate has predictive value for identifying those infants who may develop hyperbilirubinemia not associated with proved blood group isoimmunization. Explanation for the association between the trend of the respiratory rate and the concentration of bilirubin in the serum is not clearly evident.

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