Publication Types
Abstract
Objective
To determine if visuocortical development in premature infants with high bilirubin levels is more adversely affected than that in full-term infants.
Study design
57 preterm infants were managed using institutional guidelines for hyperbilirubinemia. At 12-months corrected age, Vernier acuity, contrast sensitivity, and grating acuity measured using the sweep visual evoked potential (sVEP) were correlated to total serum/plasma bilirubin (TSB) levels in the first week of life.
Result
As TSB levels increased, Vernier acuity worsened in infants <34 weeks’ gestation compared with those >34 to <37 weeks’ gestation (p < 0.001). contrast sensitivity varied as a function of tsb levels (spearman correlation 0.63, p < 0.001). grating acuity was unaffected.< p>
Conclusion
Vernier acuity in preterm infants <34 weeks’ gestation is more vulnerable to the effects of bilirubin, suggesting that extrastriate visual cortex primarily affected by bilirubin. therefore, guidelines for management hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants (<34 gestation) should be revised.< p>
