Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia at High Altitude
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Leibson, Cynthia; Brown, Mark; Thibodeau, Steve; Stevenson, David; Vreman, Hendrik; Cohen, Ron; Clemons, Gisela; Callen, Wayne; Moore, Lorna Grindlay
- Source
- American Journal of Diseases of Children; August 1989, Vol. 143 Issue: 8 p983-987, 5p
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 0002922X
• 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 3100m altitude vs 16% at 1600 m exhibited hyperbilirubinemia, defined as a day 3 serum bilirubin level of 205 μmol/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 breastfed 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.(AJDC. 1989;143:983-987)