Neonatal jaundice occurs in 60-70% of newborns. Severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to neurological dysfunction and possibly death, and preterm infants are particularly susceptible to these complications. Current diagnostic techniques measure total serum levels of bilirubin (TSB), which are used as indicators for treatment with phototherapy. However, levels of free, unbound bilirubin (Bf) are thought to determine the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity more accurately than TSB. Bf levels can be elevated by competition for binding sites with free fatty acids (FFA). Most FFA circulate bound to albumin, with only a small fraction present unbound in the aqueous phase (FFAu). FFA are an important element of nutrition, so prior to full enteral feeding most premature infants receive them as Intralipid, an intravenous fatty acid emulsion. Preliminary data suggest that FFAu can be markedly elevated in premature infants receiving Intralipid, most likely due to immature metabolism and storage. This may lead to lipid associated complications, including elevated Bf secondary to competition with bilirubin for albumin binding sites. The thresholds for initiation and duration of phototherap are not well established in preterm infants, leading to conflicting approaches based on TSB, birth weight and/or gestational age. Thus, although levels of Bf-the toxic compartment of circulating bilirubin-may be markedly elevated in infants receiving Intralipid, current approaches do not include direct measurement of Bf. Recently, we developed FFAu- and Bf-specific probes through a process of iterative mutations and high throughput screening of fluorescently labeled FFA binding proteins. We demonstrated that these probes can detect physiologic, nanomolar concentrations of Bf and FFAu in plasma. The proposed studies will utilize this new, innovative technology to investigate the hypothesis that 1) Intralipid infusion will increase FFAu and consequently Bf and the Bf/TSB ratio in preterm infants, and 2) premature infants treated with phototherapy during the first week of life (based on TSB levels) who are receiving Intralipid will have at least 20% higher levels of Bf than those not receiving Intralipid. Such findings would support the idea that TSB underestimates risk in Intralipid-treated infants, and that Bf may be a better determinant of the need for phototherapy. Larger studies will then be designed to test clinical efficacy and improved outcomes after managing hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants based on direct measurements of Bf.

Public Health Relevance

Unbound Fatty Acids and Unbound Bilirubin in Preterm Infants: The Role of Intralipid Neonatal jaundice occurs in 60-70% of newborns and severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to neurological dysfunction and possibly death. Current diagnostic techniques measure total serum levels of bilirubin (TSB), which are used as indicators for treatment, however, it is the level of free, unbound bilirubin (Bf) that determines risk of bilirubn neurotoxicity more accurately than TSB. The Bf levels are elevated due to competition for binding sites by compounds including free fatty acids (FFA) which are increased in premature infants treated with Intralipid, an intravenous fatty acid emulsion used to provide calories. The goal of this project is to utilize a new, innovative technology to measure Bf and unbound FFA (FFAu) levels and demonstrate significant elevations of Bf in this population. In addition, another goal is to show that the use of TSB for intervention indications occurs at very high Bf levels. The public health relevance of this project is to establish a new, method for the diagnosis of neonatal jaundice resulting in better protection against bilirubin related neurological injury and more accurate therapeutic interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03HD077422-01A1
Application #
8702361
Study Section
Developmental Biology Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Raju, Tonse N
Project Start
2014-04-15
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-15
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rbhs-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Piscataway
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08854
Hegyi, Thomas; Kleinfeld, Alan; Huber, Andrew et al. (2018) Unbound bilirubin measurements by a novel probe in preterm infants. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med :1-6
Hegyi, Thomas; Kleinfeld, Alan; Huber, Andrew et al. (2017) Effects of Soybean Lipid Infusion on Unbound Free Fatty Acids and Unbound Bilirubin in Preterm Infants. J Pediatr 184:45-50.e1