Erythrocyte damage in newborn babies caused by hyperbilirubinaemia and hypoxia.

Erythrocyte damage of newborn babies suffering from hyperbilirubinaemia and hypoxia was compared with a control group. In the cases of serum bilirubin level higher than physiological icterus lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes decreased probably due to the antioxidant effect of bilirubin. Moreover, an increase in potassium and protein outflow from patients' red blood cells was observed indicating a membrane damage both in hyperbilirubinaemic and hypoxic groups. Superoxide dismutase activity of serum and erythrocytes did not show significant difference in patients compared with healthy newborns. However, the low serum coeruloplasmin level in the hypoxic group and the low serum transferrin level of babies both with hypoxia and hyperbilirubinaemia suggest an insufficient antioxidant defence against free radicals.