Serum bilirubin trend, hematological and clinical profile of late preterm and term neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia - A prospective observational study

Studies comparing serum bilirubin trend and hematological profile of neonates with hemolytic and nonhemolytic etiology are limited. Apart from high bilirubin load, they are at increased risk of developing anemia in early days of life. A prospective observational study was conducted in neonatal unit on late preterm and term neonates (>35 weeks) with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (UH) to compare serum bilirubin trend (initial and peak), hematological profile (hemoglobin [Hb] and hematocrit [PCV]) (initial and at 3 months), between hemolytic and non-hemolytic cases. Among 240 enrolled neonates, initial serum bilirubin level was higher in haemolytic group than non-hemolytic (mg/dl) (16.9 ± 3.2 vs. 14.6 ± 4.1; p