www.wjpmr.com Obeagu et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research 233 EVALUATION OF SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF NEONATAL JAUNDICE Chukwurah Ejike Felix 1 , Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi* 2 and Ibe Ngozi Martha 3 1 Department of Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. 2 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. 3 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. Article Received on 15/03/2019 Article Revised on 05/04/2019 Article Accepted on 26/04/2019 INTRODUCTION In all countries many children die or suffer from serious illness about the time of birth. In tropical countries the problem is much greater and many more newborn babies become ill or die because medical care is frequently inadequate, while the health of mother is poor and the surroundings into which the babies is born is often dirty and insanitary (Jellifer 1980). Some of these illness includes jaundice, Haemorhage, vomiting, mastitis, Tetanus, neonatorum, thrush, septicaemia, skin infections, umbilical infection, respiratory infection, diarrhea. Among the above mentioned, jaundice is one of the commonest hence some are uncommon. Jaundice is a common clinical problem in newborn. Although the need to diagnose and treat hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy term newborn has been controversial (Augustine 1999). Jaundice (Iceterus) is a condition characterized by raised bilirubin level in the blood (hyperbilirubinaemia). Minor degrees are only detectable chemically (latent jaundice) major degrees are visible inmay remain in the skin and the patient still appear jaundiced although the plasma total bilirubin level has returned to normal (Baron 1969). Jaundice can be physiological or pathological and may be due to the following: *Corresponding Author: Dr. Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. ABSTRACT The effect of jaundice on haematological parameters were carried on thirty full term neonates (15 males and 15 females) who presented with clinical jaundice and 10 control group (without jaundice). The parameters assayed include bilirubin (total, conjugated and unconjugated), ABO and Rhesus blood grouping, glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) prothrombin time (PT) platelet and Reticulocyte count. Mothers’ samples were also collected for the blood grouping. Pre-term babies and babies with other disease conditions apart from jaundice were excluded. Total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels of 214.49±163umol/l, 40.88±44umol/l and 173.61 ±111.6umol/l respectively were recorded. Mean levels of 18.9±6.6umol/l, 8.8umol/l and 10.1 ±44umol/l total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels were recorded also in control population. The bilirubin levels were quite high in all the patients when compared with the mean normal control subjects (P<0.01). Eleven patients were G-6-PD deficient with mean bilirubin levels of 307±150umol/l and 249±127umol/l for total and unconjugated bilirubin respectively.G-6-PD patients showed higher mean bilirubin level when compared with non G-6-PD subjects. Total and unconjugated bilirubin of non G-6-PD subjects were as fellows 163+53umol/l and 130±75umol/l respectively (p<0.05). The ABO and Rh blood grouping of both mother and babies were done and compared. Thirteen patients were ABO incompatible with their mothers. The mean bilirubin levels in ABO incompatible jaundiced patients were 174.9umol/l and 139.4umol/l for total and unconjugated bilirubin respectively. Only two patients were Rh incompatible. Mean prothrombin time of 21.8±12.6 seconds was recorded also and compared with control 14.4+0.5 seconds. There was significant difference between mean (PT) when compared with control (P<0.05). Prothrombin time of G-6-PD and ABO incompatible patients did not differ with other patients Mean platelet level and reticulocytes of 139x109±.9/l, 1.27± 0.56% respectively were recorded. There were significant variation in both platelet and reticulocyte count when compared with control 196x109±28/l and 2±0.3% respectively (P<0.05). KEYWORDS: Haematological parameters, neonatal jaundice, ABO and Rh Blood group. wjpmr, 2019,5(5), 233-237 SJIF Impact Factor: 4.639 Research Article ISSN 2455-3301 WJPMR WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH www.wjpmr.com