Objective: To assess the oxidant and antioxidant status in neonates with and without hyperbilirubinemia and their association with early manifestations of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE), in addition to eliciting the possible oxidative effects of phototherapy. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted with 104 full-term newborns at Menoufia University Hospitals from January 2020 to January 2021 to help resolve the debate regarding whether bilirubin is an antioxidant. The cases group (Group I) included 52 full-term newborns (37–40 weeks) with hyperbilirubinemia during the neonatal period, while the control group (Group II) included 52 healthy, full-term age and sex-matched newborns who did not have hyperbilirubinemia. The cases group was further subdivided into Group Ia (n = 12), which included newborns who presented with neurological manifestations suggesting early ABE, and Group Ib (n = 40), which included newborns with no signs suggestive of ABE. All newborns were subjected to clinical and neurological examinations, as well as laboratory investigations. Results: Comparing the specific biological markers between the Group 1 subgroups before phototherapy, the mean plasma levels of prostaglandin-E_m, prostaglandin E₂, and TSB were significantly higher in Subgroup I(a) (all p < 0.05). After phototherapy, Subgroup I(a) patients had significantly higher levels of prostaglandin-E_m, DSB, and TSB (p < 0.05). The biological marker levels improved after phototherapy in terms of TAC (0.811 vs. 0.903), MDA (8.18 vs. 5.13), prostaglandin-E_m (37.47 vs. 27.23), prostaglandin E₂ (81.09 vs. 31.49), DSB (1.21 vs. 0.55), and TSB (16.63 vs. 8.26; p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that an elevated level of serum bilirubin increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant capacity. The reduction in bilirubin levels by phototherapy is associated with a decrease in oxidative stress markers (MDA, PGE_m, and PGE₂) and an upsurge in TAC, highlighting the absence of oxidative stress effects arising from phototherapy. Neonates with neurological manifestations suggesting ABE had higher levels of oxidative stress markers and lower levels of total antioxidant capacity than those without.

Background: The anemia of prematurity is caused by untimely birth occurring before placental iron transport and fetal erythropoiesis are complete. Objective: To determine the serum levels of erythroferrone and their relation to the anaemia of prematurity. Patients and methods: This study was case control study carried out in the the Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University. This study included two groups; the first group included newborns of both sexes with anemia of prematurity admitted to the NICU during the study period, the 2nd group included group of healthy newborns. all participants were subjected to history taking, general examination, Local examination, Abdominal examination and Laboratory investigations including complete blood count (CBC), and blood film, C reactive protein (CRP), Blood culture when needed, Kidney functions tests: including serum creatinine and urea, Liver function tests: including serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Hepcidin level and Erythroferrone. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in liver, renal functions, CRP. Hepcidin showed significant decrease in diseased group when compared to the control group. Free erythroferrone levels showed significant increase in diseased group when compared to the control group.