Relationship between transcutaneous bilirubin and circulating unbound bilirubin in jaundiced neonates

Abstract Background Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) consists of the skin-deposited bilirubin. Free bilirubin represents the protein-unbound bilirubin (UB) that is able to pass into the tissues. We aimed to describe the relationship UB-TcB and study the passage of UB into the skin. Methods We prospectively enrolled 194 neonates and we measured TcB, UB, serum bilirubin and albumin. Multiple sites TcB measurement was performed, bilirubin-albumin equilibrium constant and plasma bilirubin avidity (PBA) were calculated. Result TcB has a similar correlation with UB and TSB. There is a quadratic relationship between UB and TcB (R2 = 0.48; p < 0.001), remaining significant (β for UB2 = − 0.8; p < 0.001. β for UB = 1.1; p < 0.001) after adjustment for gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age and albumin (Adj-R2 = 0.72). UB contributes to the skin bilirubin deposition, as there are significant correlations between albumin and TcB ( r = − 0.202; p = 0.01) and between PBA and ΔTcB ( r = 0.323; p = 0.017). Conclusion TcB assay does not seem to directly replace UB measurement. However, TcB and UB are linked by a quadratic relationship: UB contributes to the skin bilirubin deposition but it is not the only bilirubin species measured by transcutaneous bilirubinometry.