Commentary

[摘要] Dr. Diamond has presented important in vivo evidence reaffirming the thesis of Dr. Odell that unbound bilirubin is the toxin causing kernicterus. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned how to apply this knowledge to the management of the jaundiced newborn infant. For example, we are still left with the problem of deciding which jaundiced infant needs treatment. Recent electron microscopic studies in the Gunn rat emphasize this point. At birth, in homozygous (jj) rats born to heterozygous (Jj) mothers, no staining of the tissues is present and there are no cellular abnormalities to be found in the brain. By 4 to 8 hours of life, jj animals display slight clinical jaundice and their brains, after perfusion with saline or formalin to wash out capillary blood, exhibit equivocal localized staining.

[学科分类] 儿科学