1. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at high altitude.
- Author
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Leibson C, Brown M, Thibodeau S, Stevenson D, Vreman H, Cohen R, Clemons G, Callen W, and Moore LG
- Subjects
- Adult, Bilirubin blood, Colorado, Female, Fetal Blood analysis, Humans, Infant Food, Infant, Newborn, Jaundice, Neonatal epidemiology, Milk, Human, Pregnancy, Smoking, Altitude, Jaundice, Neonatal etiology
- Abstract
A previous retrospective study showed an increased frequency of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at high altitude in Colorado. In a prospective study we found that 39% of newborns at 3100 m altitude vs 16% at 1600 m exhibited hyperbilirubinemia, defined as a day 3 serum bilirubin level of 205 mumol/L or higher. Increased bilirubin production at 3100 m vs 1600 m was shown by increased levels of corrected carboxyhemoglobin. This finding was supported by increased erythropoietin and bilirubin values in cord blood and increased hematocrit values at day 3 among infants at 3100 m vs 1600 m. The sustained elevation in bilirubin for breast-fed vs formula-fed infants at 1600 m was observed for both feeding types at 3100 m. The findings suggested that there is a hematologic response to decreased oxygen availability at high altitude, resulting in increased bilirubin production accompanied by delayed bilirubin clearance.
- Published
- 1989
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