Postnatal Changes in the Ability of Plasma Albumin to Bind Bilirubin

Abstract

The ability of plasma albumin to bind bilirubin during the first 8 days of life was investigated in healthy infants and the binding ability was related to gestational age, birth weight and sex. The study included 407 singleborn, newborn infants, who fulfilled the following criteria: the infant was judged clinically well from the birth, had received no blood products or medication other than phytomenadion, did not require phototherapy, direct Coombs’ test was negative, and Apgar score was seven or more 5 min. after birth.