Endogenous Formation of Carbon Monoxide in Newborn Infants1

SUMMARY The COHb concentration has been determined in 35 normal non‐icteric newborn infants and in 29 infants with icterus of unknown origin. It is stated that the COHb concentration in blood well reflects the degree of red cell destruction. The results indicate that there is an increased haemoglobin catabolism during the newborn period and that increased degradation of haemoglobin contributes to the neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in cases without known haemolytic disease.