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Clemence P, Moshiro R, Manji K. Validity of BiliDx as a point-of-care bilirubin measurement device to diagnose and monitor neonatal jaundice at Muhimbili National Hospital, an observational study. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:114. [PMID: 38350890 PMCID: PMC10863160 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04565-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal jaundice is a condition caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream. Laboratory determination of serum bilirubin concentration by total serum bilirubin (TSB) test is still considered as gold standard for clinical guidance and practice. In developed countries, diagnosis of neonatal jaundice is shifting towards point-of-care medical devices. BiliDx is a device developed to allow a fast, blood-based determination of bilirubin levels at the point of care. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of the BiliDx device relative to a standard laboratory total serum bilirubin to diagnose and monitor jaundice among neonates admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY This was a prospective hospital-based observational study conducted at the Neonatal Ward - MNH, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from November 2022 to January 2023. A total of 180 neonates admitted at the neonatal ward with jaundice and whose parents consented were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected; 2 ml of venous blood into the vacutainer bottle for standard laboratory measurement of total serum bilirubin (TSB) and 25µL blood collected into a transfer pipette tube and applied to BiliDx. STATA version 15.1 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Out of 180 neonates, 39.4% (71/180) had birth weight between 1500 - 2499.9 g, approximately 2/3rd (120/180) were preterm, 92/180 (51.1%) were males and 100/180 (55.6%) were undergoing phototherapy treatment the moment sample taken. The mean bilirubin concentration was 92 mmol/l for BiliDx and 118 mmol/l for standard laboratory TSB. The minimum and maximum values obtained with BiliDx were, 3.4 and 427.5 mmol/l respectively, compared with 10.7 and 382.1 mmol/l using standard laboratory TSB. A linear relationship and correlation coefficient of 0.8408 (p = 0.000) between BiliDx and standard laboratory TSB was found. The regression analysis showed the presence of constant error [coefficient of BiliDx/slope = 0.91, 95% CI (0.82-0.99), p = 0.000] and random error exclusively [coefficient of constant/y-intercept = 48.52, 95%CI (37.70-59.34), p = 0.000]. The Bland-Altman plot showed an acceptable mean difference of 39.1mmol/l, limits of agreement of -48.3mmol/l to 126.4mmol/l, and 179 points (179/180 = 99.4%) lying inside the limits of agreement. CONCLUSION The results support the use of BiliDx for rapid and accurate testing of elevated levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream among neonates since 99.4% of the differences between BiliDx and standard laboratory TSB lie between the lines of agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Clemence
- Department of Paediatrics and child health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O BOX 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Robert Moshiro
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili National Hospital, P.O BOX 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Karim Manji
- Department of Paediatrics and child health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O BOX 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Okwundu CI, Olowoyeye A, Uthman OA, Smith J, Wiysonge CS, Bhutani VK, Fiander M, Gautham KS. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry versus total serum bilirubin measurement for newborns. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 5:CD012660. [PMID: 37158489 PMCID: PMC10167941 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012660.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Jaundice is a very common condition in newborns, affecting up to 60% of term newborns and 80% of preterm newborns in the first week of life. Jaundice is caused by increased bilirubin in the blood from the breakdown of red blood cells. The gold standard for measuring bilirubin levels is obtaining a blood sample and processing it in a laboratory. However, noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement devices are widely available and used in many settings to estimate total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels. OBJECTIVES To determine the diagnostic accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement for detecting hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and trial registries up to 18 August 2022. We also checked the reference lists of all included studies and relevant systematic reviews for other potentially eligible studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies that evaluated the accuracy of any TcB device compared to TSB measurement in term or preterm newborn infants (0 to 28 days postnatal age). All included studies provided sufficient data and information to create a 2 × 2 table for the calculation of measures of diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivities and specificities. We excluded studies that only reported correlation coefficients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently applied the eligibility criteria to all citations from the search and extracted data from the included studies using a standard data extraction form. We summarised the available results narratively and, where possible, we combined study data in a meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS We included 23 studies, involving 5058 participants. All studies had low risk of bias as measured by the QUADAS 2 tool. The studies were conducted in different countries and settings, included newborns of different gestational and postnatal ages, compared various TcB devices (including the JM 101, JM 102, JM 103, BiliChek, Bilitest and JH20-1C) and used different cutoff values for a positive result. In most studies, the TcB measurement was taken from the forehead, sternum, or both. The sensitivity of various TcB cutoff values to detect significant hyperbilirubinaemia ranged from 74% to 100%, and specificity ranged from 18% to 89%. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The high sensitivity of TcB to detect hyperbilirubinaemia suggests that TcB devices are reliable screening tests for ruling out hyperbilirubinaemia in newborn infants. Positive test results would require confirmation through serum bilirubin measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles I Okwundu
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abiola Olowoyeye
- Phoenix Children's Hospital and University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Olalekan A Uthman
- Warwick Centre for Applied Health Research and Delivery (WCAHRD), Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Johan Smith
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Charles S Wiysonge
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Vinod K Bhutani
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | | | - Kanekal S Gautham
- Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief, Nemours Children's Health System, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida, USA
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Manwar R, Gelovani JG, Avanaki K. Bilirubin-biliverdin concentration measurement using photoacoustic spectroscopic analysis for determining hemorrhage age. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2023:e202200316. [PMID: 36995028 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202200316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The onset of intracerebral hemorrhage and its progression toward acute brain injury have been correlated with the concentration of unconjugated bilirubin (BR). In addition, BR has been considered a novel predictor of outcome from intracranial hemorrhage. Since the existing invasive approach for determining localized BR and biliverdin (BV) concentration within the hemorrhagic brain lesion is not feasible, the predictive capability of BR in terms of determining the onset of hemorrhage and understanding the consequences of its progression (age) is unknown. In this study, we have demonstrated a photoacoustic (PA) approach to the noninvasive measurement of BR-BV ratio that can be utilized longitudinally to approximate the onset of the hemorrhage. The PA imaging-based measurements of BV and BR in tissues and fluids can potentially be used to determine hemorrhage "age," quantitatively evaluate the hemorrhage resorption or detect a rebleeding, and assess responses to therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayyan Manwar
- The Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Juri G Gelovani
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department Radiology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kamran Avanaki
- The Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Dermatology and Pediatric, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Sufian AT, Jones GR, Shabeer HM, Elzagzoug EY, Spencer JW. Chromatic techniques for in vivo monitoring jaundice in neonate tissues. Physiol Meas 2018; 39:095004. [PMID: 30129925 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/aadbdb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A chromatic method is described for providing a preliminary indication of unacceptable bilirubin levels in a newly born baby in order to avoid the development of serious mental deficiencies. The aim was to investigate the reliability of a new chromatic approach using a novel template unit for a preliminary, non-invasive monitoring of the skin tissue of newly born babies with jaundice and its capability for use with different mobile phone cameras. APPROACH A description of the monitoring system is given along with an explanation of the monitoring technique used. Preliminary tests have been performed on 48 different neonates each being addressed by one of six different mobile phone cameras, which were randomly available to the operating clinicians. MAIN RESULTS The test results have a correlation (R 2) of 0.81, a sensitivity (Sn) of 0.97, a specificity (Sp) of 0.82, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.95 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.9. SIGNIFICANCE The significance of the results obtained is that they show the approach to have a high level of fail-safe reliability in indicating the bilirubin levels when compared with blood test results. The results also show that the approach can be used with a few different mobile phone cameras and that because of its non-invasive nature and its cost effectiveness, has the potential for remote use from a medical hospital to provide an immediate preliminary diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Sufian
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Centre for Intelligent Monitoring Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, United Kingdom
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Chimhini GLT, Chimhuya S, Chikwasha V. Evaluation of transcutaneous bilirubinometer (DRAEGER JM 103) use in Zimbabwean newborn babies. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol 2018; 4:1. [PMID: 29375886 PMCID: PMC5773093 DOI: 10.1186/s40748-017-0070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy in the neonatal period is a major cause of permanent disability. Effective screening and surveillance are essential in the newborn period to enable timely management. Noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin devices have been successfully used for screening in many settings. We evaluated the accuracy of the Draeger JM 103 (Medical Systems, USA) for estimating serum bilirubin in Zimbabwean newborns. Methods Paired transcutaneous (forehead and sternum) and serum bilirubin measurements were compared on 283 infants consecutively recruited between 01 August and 30 November 2015 at Harare Hospital Neonatal Unit. Using serum bilirubin as gold standard, Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) was calculated for the two transcutaneous measurement sites. Linear regression plots of transcutaneous versus serum estimates were performed. Comparison was made between preterm and term babies. Specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the JM103 were calculated including ROC curves to assess the accuracy of the diagnostic tests. Results Fifty-five percent of the babies were male. Median gestational age was 38 weeks (range 28–42). One hundred and fifteen (41%) were preterm. Median postnatal age was 3 days (range 0–10). Serum bilirubin ranged 85–408 μmol/l, transcutaneous bilirubin sternum; 170–544 μmol/l and forehead; 119–510 μmol/l. Correlation between serum and transcutaneous bilirubin (sternum) was 0.77 and between serum and transcutaneous (forehead) was 0.72. Preterm babies correlation for sternum was 0.77 and forehead was 0.75. Term babies correlation for sternum was 0.76 and forehead was 0.70. The sensitivity for the sternum site was 76%, specificity 90%, Positive Predictive Value of 70 and Negative Predictive Value 92. Sensitivity for forehead site was 62%, specificity 95% with a Positive Predictive Value of 80 and Negative Predictive Value of 90. Bland-Altman plot of serum versus transcutaneous measurements showed agreement between the tests. The ROC curves showed that the accuracy of the two diagnostic tests were good with no significant difference between the two, p = 0.2954. Conclusion The study demonstrated a strong positive correlation for both sternum and forehead sites with serum bilirubin in this Zimbabwean population of African origin. However, the sternum is a better site for identifying babies with jaundice compared to forehead. The Draeger JM-103 can be used to screening for neonatal jaundice in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simbarashe Chimhuya
- 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe-College of Health Sciences, Mazoe Street, Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Vasco Chikwasha
- 2Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe-College of Health Sciences, Mazoe Street, Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Abstract
Although the modern era of transcutaneous bilirubin monitoring (TcB) began only about 35 years ago, this screening tool is now widely used in newborn nurseries and outpatient clinics, offices, and emergency departments to obtain a rapid and non-invasive estimate of the degree of hyperbilirubinemia. TcB devices have become more sophisticated, and major breakthroughs include the following: (a) ability to report a bilirubin value rather than an index value, (b) enhanced correction for chromophores other than bilirubin, and (c) technologic improvements including interface with electronic medical records. Good agreement with laboratory bilirubin measurement has been demonstrated, and the ability of TcB screening to predict and decrease the incidence of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia has been well-documented. To date, it has not been shown that this screening results in improved long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Engle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9063.
| | - Gregory L Jackson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9063
| | - Nancy G Engle
- College of Nursing, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX
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Coda Zabetta CD, Iskander IF, Greco C, Bellarosa C, Demarini S, Tiribelli C, Wennberg RP. Bilistick: a low-cost point-of-care system to measure total plasma bilirubin. Neonatology 2013; 103:177-81. [PMID: 23295342 DOI: 10.1159/000345425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, with consequent encephalopathy, remains a common cause of morbidity and death in many regions of the world. Poor access to clinical laboratory resources and screening programs to measure plasma bilirubin levels is a major contributor to delayed treatment in developing countries, and the cost of existing point-of-care screening instruments precludes their dissemination. OBJECTIVES We are evaluating the accuracy of a low-cost, minimally invasive point-of-care system (Bilistick) requiring a 25-µl blood sample that could be used in low-resource environments to evaluate patients with neonatal jaundice. METHODS We compared plasma bilirubin levels in divided blood samples by clinical laboratories and by Bilistick at two medical centers serving term and near-term newborns from ethnically different populations. RESULTS 118 neonates with bilirubin levels ranging from 24.8 to 501.0 µmol/l were analyzed. The mean bilirubin concentration (±SD) was 215.6 ± 85.5 µmol/l for Bilistick and 226.1 ± 86.4 µmol/l by laboratory determination. Pearson's correlation coefficient between all paired results was 0.961, and the Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean difference of 10.3 µmol/l with a 95% interval of agreement of -38.0 to 58.7 µmol/l. CONCLUSION Bilistick is a minimally invasive method for measuring total bilirubin concentration over a wide range of values and should provide an affordable and accurate system for pre-discharge and follow-up screening of jaundiced infants, particularly in low-resource environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Coda Zabetta
- Liver Research Centre, Italian Liver Foundation, Trieste, Italy.
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Zhou Y, Zhang C, Yao DK, Wang LV. Photoacoustic microscopy of bilirubin in tissue phantoms. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2012; 17:126019. [PMID: 23235894 PMCID: PMC3521055 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.17.12.126019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Determining both bilirubin's concentration and its spatial distribution are important in disease diagnosis. Here, for the first time, we applied quantitative multiwavelength photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) to detect bilirubin concentration and distribution simultaneously. By measuring tissue-mimicking phantoms with different bilirubin concentrations, we showed that the root-mean-square error of prediction has reached 0.52 and 0.83 mg/dL for pure bilirubin and for blood-mixed bilirubin detection (with 100% oxygen saturation), respectively. We further demonstrated the capability of the PAM system to image bilirubin distribution both with and without blood. Finally, by underlaying bilirubin phantoms with mouse skins, we showed that bilirubin can be imaged with consistent accuracy down to >400 μm in depth. Our results show that PAM has potential for noninvasive bilirubin monitoring in vivo, as well as for further clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhou
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Optical Imaging Laboratory, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Chi Zhang
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Optical Imaging Laboratory, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Da-Kang Yao
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Optical Imaging Laboratory, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Lihong V. Wang
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Optical Imaging Laboratory, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
- Address all correspondence to: Lihong V. Wang, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Optical Imaging Laboratory, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130. Tel: 314-935-9586; Fax: 314-935-7448; E-mail:
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Raimondi F, Lama S, Landolfo F, Sellitto M, Borrelli AC, Maffucci R, Milite P, Capasso L. Measuring transcutaneous bilirubin: a comparative analysis of three devices on a multiracial population. BMC Pediatr 2012; 12:70. [PMID: 22697173 PMCID: PMC3445817 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hyperbilirubinemia can lead to potentially irreversible bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity. Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) determination has become a valuable aid in non invasive screening of neonatal jaundice. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of three most widespread transcutaneous bilirubinometers on a multiracial population of term and late pre-term neonates. Methods Bilirubin concentration was determined using traditional photometric determination and transcutaneously with Bilicheck, BiliMed and JM-103, in random order. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) was determined over a wide concentration range (15,8–0,7 mg/dl) with a mean of 9,5 mg/dl. Related TcB values using Bilicheck (TcB-BC), BiliMed (TcB-BM), and JM-103 (TcB-JM) are reported in Table 1. Results A multiracial population of 289 neonates was enrolled with a gestational age ranging from 35 to 41 weeks; birth weight ranging from 1800to 4350 grams; hours of life ranging from 4 to 424. In the total study population correlation analysis using Pearson coefficients showed good results for Bilicheck (r = 0.86) and JM-103 (r = 0.85) but poor for BiliMed (r = 0,70). Similar results were found for the non-Caucasian neonates subgroup. Bilicheck and JM-103 had a greater area under the curve than BiliMed when TSB =14 mg/dl was chosen as a threshold value both for the total study population and the non-Caucasian subgroup. Conclusions Bilicheck and JM-103, but not BiliMed, are equally reliable screening tools for hyperbilirubinemia in our multiracial neonatal population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Raimondi
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Università Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy.
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Bosschaart N, Kok JH, Newsum AM, Ouweneel DM, Mentink R, van Leeuwen TG, Aalders MCG. Limitations and opportunities of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements. Pediatrics 2012; 129:689-94. [PMID: 22430456 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although transcutaneous bilirubinometers have existed for over 30 years, the clinical utility of the technique is limited to a screening method for hyperbilirubinemia, rather than a replacement for invasive blood sampling. In this study, we investigate the reason for this limited clinical value and address possibilities for improvement. METHODS To obtain better insight into the physiology of bilirubin measurements, we evaluated a transcutaneous bilirubinometer that determines not only the cutaneous bilirubin concentration (TcB) but also the blood volume fraction (BVF) in the investigated skin volume. For 49 neonates (gestational age 30 ± 3.1 weeks, postnatal age 6 [4-10] days) at our NICU, we performed 124 TcB and 55 BVF measurements. RESULTS The TcB correlated well with the total serum bilirubin concentration (TSB) (r = 0.88) with an uncertainty of 55 µmol/L. The BVF in the measured skin volume ranged between 0.1% and 0.75%. CONCLUSIONS The performance of our bilirubinometer is comparable to existing transcutaneous devices. The limited clinical value of current bilirubinometers can be explained by the low BVF in the skin volume that is probed by these devices. Because the TcB depends for over 99% on the contribution of extravascular bilirubin, it is a physiologically different parameter from the TSB. Hence, the standard method of evaluation that compares the TcB to the TSB is insufficient to fully investigate the clinical value of transcutaneous bilirubinometers, ie, their predictive value for kernicterus. We suggest that the clinical value may be improved considerably by changing either the method of evaluation or the technological design of transcutaneous bilirubinometers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Bosschaart
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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El-Beshbishi SN, Shattuck KE, Mohammad AA, Petersen JR. Hyperbilirubinemia and Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry. Clin Chem 2009; 55:1280-7. [DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2008.121889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBackground: Neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is a common occurrence in newborns. Although most cases of neonatal jaundice have a benign course, severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to kernicterus, which is preventable if the hyperbilirubinemia is identified early and treated appropriately.Content: This review discusses neonatal jaundice and the use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements for identification of neonates at risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia. Such a practice requires appropriate serial testing and result interpretation according to risk level from a nomogram that provides bilirubin concentrations specific for the age of the neonate in hours. In this context, we have evaluated the potential impact on clinical outcome and limitations of TcB methods in current use.Summary: TcB measurement is a viable option in screening neonates to determine if they are at risk for clinically significant hyperbilirubinemia. Total serum bilirubin should be measured by a clinical laboratory if a newborn is shown to be at higher risk for clinically significant hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, external quality assessment to identify biases and operator training issues should be part of any TcB monitoring program.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amin A Mohammad
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - John R Petersen
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
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