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Observational Study
. 2020 Feb;40(2):226-231.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0557-9. Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin on covered skin in preterm and term newborns receiving phototherapy using a JM-105 bilirubinometer

U Costa-Posada  1 , A Concheiro-Guisán  2 , M F Táboas-Ledo  2 , E González-Colmenero  2 , M L González-Durán  2 , M Suarez-Albo  2 , C Duran Fernández-Feijoo  2 , M Pumarada-Prieto  2 , Cristina Martínez-Reglero  3 , J R Fernández-Lorenzo  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin on covered skin in preterm and term newborns receiving phototherapy using a JM-105 bilirubinometer

U Costa-Posada et al. J Perinatol. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Determine the suitability of transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) as a tool to assess the effectiveness of phototherapy on patched skin.

Study design: A prospective observational study was conducted. We covered a fragment of skin (sternum) with a photo-opaque patch. Several simultaneous TCB and TSB measurements were performed with the JM-105 bilirubinometer. Bland and Altman test evaluated the agreement between bilirubin levels.

Result: A total of 217 patients were studied, 48.8% were preterm. The mean difference between TSB and TCB before the start of treatment was 1.07 mg/dL. During phototherapy, differences on covered skin were 0.52, 0.27, and 0.39 mg/dL at 24, 48, and 72 h of therapy respectively. The best correlation was observed at 48 h in preterm infants.

Conclusion: The measurement of TCB on patched skin (PTCB) is useful for monitoring the response to phototherapy in term and preterm infants. We use a patch with a removable flap that eases successive measures without disturbing the patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Photo-opaque patch with an easy-removable flap placed at newbornʼs sternum (Informed consent was obtained for this picture)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bland–Altman plots. Agreement between PTCB and TSB after 24 h of phototherapy, (a) total (b) preterm. The x-axis shows the mean of the results ([TSB + PTCB]/2; [TSB + UTCB]/2) of the two methods. The y-axis shows the absolute difference between the two methods (TSB–PTCB; TSB–UTCB)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bland–Altman plots. Agreement between PTCB and TSB after 48 h of phototherapy, (a) total (b) preterm. The x-axis shows the mean of the results ([TSB + PTCB]/2; [TSB + UTCB]/2) of the two methods. The y-axis shows the absolute difference between the two methods (TSB–PTCB; TSB–UTCB)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Graph depicting the difference between TCB on patched skin (PTCB) or unpatched skin (UTCB) and TSB at various time moments (hours of phototherapy). Mean of differences and interquartile range
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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