To investigate changes of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) in full-term neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and explore correlation between neuron specific enolase and γ-glutamyl transferase in full-term neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

From January 2009 to December 2010, 60 full-term neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (UCB group) were divided into three groups according to the level of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), mild UCB group [(220.6~256.5) μmol/L, n=22], moderate UCB group [(256.6~342.0) μmol/L, n = 30] and severe UCB group (>342.0 μmol/L, n=8). Meanwhile, 30 healthy full-term neonates with unconjugated bilirubin level less than 85.5 μmol/L were recruited into control group. Informed consent was obtained from all participates. There were no significant difference between UCB group and control group, also among mild, moderate and severe UCB group in gender, gestational age, mode of delivery, Apgar score, birth weight and day ages of neonate (P>0.05). Serum neuron specific enolase level was determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), and γ-glutamyl transferase were determined by processing biology and chemistry.

Neuron specific enolase level [(17.54 ± 4.57) μg/L] and γ-glutamyl transferase [(108.19 ± 21.53) U/L] in UCB group were obviously higher than those in control group [(7.23 ± 1.64) μg/L, (62.02 ± 14.78) U/L] (P<0.01). By linear correlation analysis, levels of γ-glutamyl transferase were inversely associated with levels of serum neuron specific enolase (r=0.7832, P<0. 001), the correlation between levels of γ-glutamyl transferase, serum neuron specific enolase and unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were poor (r=0.2923, P<0.05 ; r=0.3145, P<0.05).

Levels of neuron specific enolase and γ-glutamyl transferase may have potential value of estimating bilirubin related brain damage. If neuron specific enolase can not be determined, γ-glutamyl transferase may be as a significant reference index.

unconjugated hyperbilirubin(UCB); γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT); neuron specific enolase (NSE); neonate