Effectiveness of conventional phototherapy versus Super light-emitting diodes phototherapy in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

BACKGROUND

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is very common. Phototherapy has been used for decades to prevent severe hyperbilirubinemia, which can cause kernicterus.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of two phototherapy devices in reducing plasma bilirubin and duration of phototherapy in non-severe hyperbilirubinemia.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This was an open-label randomized controlled trial. Forty healthy infants aged between 1 and 5 days with non-severe hyperbilirubinemia, but to the level requiring phototherapy, were recruited. The phototherapy unit used in the "blue-light" group was the Siriraj Phototherapy Lamp with 6 special blue fluorescent tubes. The phototherapy unit used in the "light-emitting diodes (LEDs)" group was the Bilitron 3006 with 5 super LEDs.

RESULTS

Twenty infants were included in each group. Demographic data and baseline clinical characteristics of infants in both groups were comparable. Median rate (25%, 75%tile) ofplasma bilirubin decreasing during phototherapy in the "blue light" was significantly higher than in the "LEDs" group [0.16 (0.09, 0.25) and 0.10 (0.02, 0.17) mg/dL/hour, respectively; p = 0.03]. Duration of phototherapy in "blue light" group was shorter than in "LEDs" group but was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

A locally invented phototherapy device with special blue fluorescent tubes can be more effective than the more expensive commercial super LEDs phototherapy device in decreasing plasma bilirubin.