Serum bilirubin levels in 1-month-old, healthy, term infants from southern Turkey.

This study investigated bilirubin levels in 282 1-month-old, healthy, term infants from the Adana region in southern Turkey. Total bilirubin was > 5 mg/dl in 20.2% of the infants and > 10 mg/dl in 6% of the group. Thyroid function and levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were determined in babies with bilirubin levels > 5 mg/dl. The results were normal in all but one case, an infant with a bilirubin level of > 10 mg/dl and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The results indicate that in this population a 5-mg/dl cut-off level for further investigation would mean that 20% of all infants would require further evaluation. This is not cost-effective. Based on our findings, we suggest that the cut-off level for investigating prolonged jaundice in term, 1-month-old, healthy infants in the Turkish population should be > 5 mg/dl.