Outcomes of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates due to rhesus incompatibility admitted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar
Submission: 10 September 2025 | Acceptance: 05 November 2025 | Publication: 15 December 2025
Khan Salam1, Irshad Ullah1, Jan Muhammad1, Hira Tahir1, Sumaira Naz1, Asad Kamal
1 Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan.
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To determine the outcomes of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates due to rhesus incompatibility admitted at Khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar.
Study type: Cross sectional study
Place: Department of Pediatrics, Khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar.
Duration: March 2025 to August 2025.
Methodology: Total 115 newborns with hyperbilirubinemia who are 3–25 days old with rhesus incompatibility and total serum bilirubin (TSB) >12 mg/dL were included. Preterm infants, newborns with significant congenital defects, and those whose mothers tested positive for hepatitis A, B, or C were not included. Age, weight, gender, socioeconomic level, mother’s occupation, education, and place of residence were among the demographic details recorded. Patients were assessed for the outcomes of kernicterus and full recovery. A heel stick (capillary blood draw) was used to obtain 0.1 to 0.3 mL (milliliters) of blood for laboratory testing in cases of hyperbilirubinemia. The Rh factor test was carried out by drawing three milliliters of blood from the mother’s hand or arm vein in a sterile tube. For neonates, a heel stick was used to draw between 0.1 and 0.3 volumes of blood.
Results: In this study, the average age was 15.25 ± 6.56 days. Of the 115 patients, 60 (52.17%) were male and 55 (47.83%) were female, resulting in a male to female ratio of 1.1:1. The average weight in our sample was 4.09 ± 2.53 kg. In total, 53.91% of deliveries were by cesarean section and 46.09% were by SVD. According to our research, 88.70% of newborns with hyperbilirubinemia brought on by rhesus incompatibility recovered completely, whereas 11.30% developed kernicterus.
Conclusion: According to this study, kernicterus occurred in 11.30% of infants who presented with jaundice as a result of Rh incompatibility.
Keywords: ABO incompatibility, total serum bilirubin, hyperbilirubinemia.