NEWBORNS WITH HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA - USEFULNESS OF BRAIN-STEM AUDITORY RESPONSE EVALUATION

We describe brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) obtained in 4 8 full-term newborns (20 boys, 28 girls) presenting with high serum to tal bilirubin concentration (from 238 to 442 mM) without Rhesus or gro up A, B, O factors incompatibility. Recordings were performed on the 3 rd day of life and repeated 5-7 days post-appropriate therapy with pho tostimulation and exchange transfusion (when bilirubin concentration h ad decreased below 136 mM), Supplementary recordings were performed 3, 6 and 12 weeks later in order to assess test-retest reliability of co mponents. Mean values of BAEP latencies were compared with those obtai ned in 40 age-matched control subjects using the same recording proced ures. At first recording session (on the 3rd day), latencies of waves III and V obtained in hyperbilirubinemic patients were significantly i ncreased as compared with records in control subjects. Recordings perf ormed 5 to 7 days post-therapy and during subsequent recording session s showed no significant differences between patients and control group s. Serial neutopsychological evaluations obtained over a 3-year follow -up showed no subsequent neurodevelopmental abnormality for all patien ts. These findings suggest that hyperbilirubinemia can alter central n eurotransmission in auditory brain stem pathways, but this modificatio n is only transient.