Studies on photopherapy in newborn infants. Influence on protein binding of bilirubin and salicylate and on activity of acetylsalicylic acid esterase.

Phototherapy of newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia was shown to result in an increase in hematocrit values and in the activity of the erythrocyte enzyme acetylsalicylic acid esterase. The elevation of the enzyme activity also could be produced in light-treated rabbits and in vitro after illumination of blood from adult volunteers. The binding of bilirubin to serum albumin and of salicylate to plasma proteins did not alter, nor did the concentrations of albumin or total proteins in plasma. It is concluded that light does not increase the unbound fraction of bilirubin in blood.