An infant with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia who shows a rapid increase in the total serum bilirubin is at greater risk for developing complications.
rate of total serum bilirubin increase in mg per liter per hour =
= ((second bilirubin reading in mg/dL) - (first bilirubin reading in mg/dL)) * 10 / (number of hours between the 2 readings)
where:
• Drawing a regression line through 3 or more results might give a more accurate value but would take longer to complete and would require more patient samples.
The rate of increase shown by the 95th percentile line from 24-48 hours after birth is 2 mg per liter per hour.
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