Blood sugar changes in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and phenobarbitone therapy.

A controlled study was carried out to show the effect of bilirubinaemia and phenobarbitone therapy on the blood sugar metabolism in newborn infants. In the control infants, a significant inverse correlation existed between the serum bilirubin and the blood sugar levels in the first 4 days. The liver seemed to be a factor in producing such a relation. Glucose may be a useful adjunct to the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Phenobarbitone therapy had significantly raised the blood sugar levels and lowered the serum bilirubin levels in these infants. It is suggested that enhancement of liver function or induction of hepatic enzymes may be the cause.