Phototherapy and neonatal liver function.

Two groups of 'healthy' full-term infants with hyperbilirubinemia exposed to phototherapy for 72 h demonstrated no significant change in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), isocitric dehydrogenase (SICD), alkaline phosphatase (SAP), heat stable alkaline phosphatase (HSAP), total protein and albumin values; these values were similar to those of a comparable group of control infants without hyperbilirubinemia. The bilirubin levels, however, decreased significantly during this period. In a separate group of full-term infants with hyperbilirubinemia, the bromsulphalein (BSP) test before and after 72 h of phototherapy also demonstrated no signficant alteration; the results were comparable to a control group of infants. Phototherapy, even for a duration of 72 h apparently does not seem to affect liver function in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.