Decline in Serum Bilirubin Concentration Coincident with Clinical Onset of Kernicterus

Abstract

A decline in serum bilirubin level, coincident with the onset of clinical signs, occurred in 4 of 13 infants with kernicterus. Such a decline in bilirubin level carries a poor prognosis, but occurs too late to be clinically valuable as an indication for exchange transfusion. Sources of patient material were: University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine, Pediatric department: Los Angeles County General Hospital, White Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, Orange County Medical Center, Orange, California; and University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pediatric department: Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.