Risk of hyperbilirubinemia in newborn African American boys

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The occurrence of idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia in normal newborn populations is higher in Asians than in Caucasians and African American infants are at the lowest risk. Even though all newborns need to be evaluated for elevated bilirubin levels, the infrequent occurrence of bilirubin levels high enough to require treatment in the African American population may decrease the vigilance of health care providers. Kaplan et al report that about 9% of African American newborns developed hyperbilirubinemia. Predictive factors were exclusive breast-feeding, an elevated pre-discharge bilirubin, and G-6-PD deficiency. The authors suggest that screening male African American infants for G-6-PD deficiency will identify a sub-group of these infants at high risk for hyperbilirubinemia.