REVIEW

Jaundice in low birthweight infants: pathobiology and outcome

J F Watchko¹, M J Maisels²

¹ Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
² Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Watchko
Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Magee-Women’s Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; jwatchko{at}mail.magee.edu

Jaundice in preterm, as well as full term, infants results from (a) an increased bilirubin load in the hepatocyte, (b) decreased hepatic uptake of bilirubin from the plasma, and/or (c) defective bilirubin conjugation. Hyperbilirubinaemia in preterm infants is more prevalent, more severe, and its course more protracted than in term neonates.

Keywords: jaundice; kernicterus; prematurity

Abbreviations: TSB, total serum bilirubin; VLBW, very low birthweight

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