Effect of phototherapy on serum bilirubin levels and red blood cell survival in congenitally jaundiced Gunn rats.

Although phototherapy with blue fluorescent light effectively lowered the serum bilirubin concentration in congenitally jaundiced Gunn rats, no effect on red blood cell surivival as determined by chromium-51 labeling of homologous red blood cells and carboxyhemoglobin concentration was observed. Furthermore, attempts to demonstrate metabolic stress to the red blood cells failed to show increased glucose consumption. No oxidant damage to red cells as reflected by methemoglobin production and Heinz body formation was observed. Thus the anticipated hemolysis secondary to oxidant damage to red blood cells from phototherapy was not found.