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Neonatal jaundice
Semin Neonatol 2002; 7:101 doi:10.1084/siny.2002.0125, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
EDITORIAL
Neonatal jaundice Jon F. Watchko and M. Jeffrey Maisels Two-thirds of human neonates develop clinically evident indirect hyperbilirubinemia in the first few days of life making it the most common clinical condition in the newborn requiring evaluation and management. Although generally a benign developmental phenomenon, on rare occasions indirect hyperbilirubinemia can become severe and potentially lead to hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy or kernicterus, a chronically disabling neurologic disorder. Recent case series of hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy in the term and near-term infant subject to early hospital discharge have reignited an intense interest in the clinical management of the jaundiced neonate and the need for ongoing research on the pathobiology of this disorder, a charge echoed in statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the United States Centers for Disease Control. This edition of Seminars in Neonatology is focused entirely on neonatal jaundice and provides state of the art discussions of several issues relevant to our understanding of the genesis of neonatal jaundice, its management, and the risks for developing hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy in the current era. We are fortunate to have had the help of outstanding
1084–2756/02/$-see front matter
physician-investigators, each of whom has made major contributions to the field. Individual contributions address among others the following important topics: 1) the relationship between breastfeeding and jaundice and the observation that almost all cases of kernicterus reported in the past 15 years have occurred in fully or partially breastfed neonates; 2) an emerging understanding of the genetic underpinnings for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; 3) evaluation and management of prolonged neonatal jaundice and cholestasis; 4) pharmacologic interventions, including metalloporphyrins, for the treatment of neonatal jaundice, 5) an international appraisal of kernicterus and its reemergence in the clinical arena; 6) an update on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and the interaction between G-6-PD deficiency and Gilbert’s syndrome in the genesis of newborn jaundice; and 7) a review of non-invasive bilirubinometry. We trust this edition will enhance the awareness of newborn caretakers to ongoing issues related to the care of the jaundiced neonate and serve as an impetus for future basic and clinical research on this important topic.
© 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
EDITORIAL
Neonatal jaundice Jon F. Watchko and M. Jeffrey Maisels Two-thirds of human neonates develop clinically evident indirect hyperbilirubinemia in the first few days of life making it the most common clinical condition in the newborn requiring evaluation and management. Although generally a benign developmental phenomenon, on rare occasions indirect hyperbilirubinemia can become severe and potentially lead to hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy or kernicterus, a chronically disabling neurologic disorder. Recent case series of hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy in the term and near-term infant subject to early hospital discharge have reignited an intense interest in the clinical management of the jaundiced neonate and the need for ongoing research on the pathobiology of this disorder, a charge echoed in statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the United States Centers for Disease Control. This edition of Seminars in Neonatology is focused entirely on neonatal jaundice and provides state of the art discussions of several issues relevant to our understanding of the genesis of neonatal jaundice, its management, and the risks for developing hyperbilirubinemic encephalopathy in the current era. We are fortunate to have had the help of outstanding
1084–2756/02/$-see front matter
physician-investigators, each of whom has made major contributions to the field. Individual contributions address among others the following important topics: 1) the relationship between breastfeeding and jaundice and the observation that almost all cases of kernicterus reported in the past 15 years have occurred in fully or partially breastfed neonates; 2) an emerging understanding of the genetic underpinnings for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; 3) evaluation and management of prolonged neonatal jaundice and cholestasis; 4) pharmacologic interventions, including metalloporphyrins, for the treatment of neonatal jaundice, 5) an international appraisal of kernicterus and its reemergence in the clinical arena; 6) an update on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and the interaction between G-6-PD deficiency and Gilbert’s syndrome in the genesis of newborn jaundice; and 7) a review of non-invasive bilirubinometry. We trust this edition will enhance the awareness of newborn caretakers to ongoing issues related to the care of the jaundiced neonate and serve as an impetus for future basic and clinical research on this important topic.
© 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.