ETHNIC GROUP DIFFERENCES IN PLASMA BILIRUBIN LEVELS OF FULL-TERM, HEALTHY SINGAPORE NEWBORNS

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Abstract
In full-term Chinese, Malay, and Indian infants of Singapore neonatal hyperbilirubinemia generally is more severe and of longer duration than in Singapore-born British infants. The ethnic group differences in neonatal bilirubin levels might be the expression of previously unrecognized genetic differences in bilirubin metabolism, although the importance of some environmental factors is not completely understood. The ordinary definitions of "physiologic" jaundice, which have evolved principally from observations in Western countries, are not appropriate to Singapore-born Asian infants and may not be appropriate to infants in many parts of the world. Further geographic studies of neonatal bilirubinemia are indicated.

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