From the Research
Definition and Purpose of the BIND Score
- The BIND (Bilirubin-Induced Neurological Dysfunction) score is a system used to assess the severity of acute bilirubin encephalopathy in newborn infants 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The score is used to evaluate the severity of neurological dysfunction caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood 2, 4.
- The BIND score is calculated based on the assessment of mental status, muscle tone, and cry patterns in infants with hyperbilirubinemia 2, 5.
Calculation and Interpretation of the BIND Score
- The BIND score ranges from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating more severe neurological dysfunction 2, 3, 4.
- A BIND score of 0 indicates no neurological dysfunction, while a score of 7-9 indicates severe acute bilirubin encephalopathy 2, 3.
- Infants with a BIND score of 4-6 are considered to have moderate encephalopathy, while those with a score of 1-3 have mild encephalopathy 2, 3.
Clinical Applications of the BIND Score
- The BIND score is used to predict residual neurologic and auditory disability in infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia 2, 4.
- The score can be used to triage infants readmitted for extreme hyperbilirubinemia and to identify those at risk of adverse outcomes 3, 4.
- The BIND score has been shown to be correlated with total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels and can be used in conjunction with other parameters, such as the bilirubin-albumin ratio, to predict adverse outcomes 4, 5.