IN NEWBORN INFANTS

CSF was obtained from a total of 52 newborn infants by lumbar puncture for diagnostic reasons or post mortem. At the same time a venous blood sample was taken. The infants were divided into two groups: i) "bilirubinemia", including all cases of hyperbilirubi­ nemia and infants presumably without CNS affection (prematurity, RDS, malformations); ii) "CNS affection", including all cases of intracranial hemorrhages and infants suffering from meningitis, sepsis, and congenital toxoplasmosis. Tot~l BR in serum and CSF was determined by standard laboratory methods, CSF-BR was additional­ ly assayed according to van Roy et al.2, with separation of diazo­ tized dipyrroles by thin layer chromatogra?hy. Estimation of BR unbound to albumin (free BR) was performed by the peroxidase tech­ nique3, albumin was estimated by bromocresol green binding4 .