Risk of BIND and kernicterus in late preterm

Excerpt

Severe hyperbilirubinemia can induce devastating and permanent neurodevelopmental handicaps in infants. The occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia is higher in late preterm than in term infants, ranging from 8 to 40% of the formers according to different definitions of hyperbilirubinemia. The mechanisms by which this occurs is not completely understood, however an increased bilirubin load on hepatocyte, as result of decreased erythrocyte survival and increased erythrocyte volume, increased enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin, decreased hepatic uptake of bilirubin from plasma, defective bilirubin conjugation, and diminished serum bilirubin binding capacity play a relevant role. …