Conventional versus LED phototherapy and their effect on lymphocytes subsets of fullterm neonates with hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract

Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions. Phototherapy has been accepted as the standard treatment for neonatal jaundice and the decline in the number of exchange transfusions in recent years is, at least in part, likely a direct reflection of the effectiveness of phototherapy at treating hyperbilirubinemia. However, this treatment modality also has some complications. One possible harmful consequence is potential immunotoxic effects by affection of lymphocytes subtypes which can affect the immune system functions in infants. The current study was performed to compare the effect of both conventional and LED phototherapy on lymphocytes subsets in term neonates (≥37weeks) with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. In this prospective study, 60 term neonates (≥37weeks) 40 of them with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were admitted to NICUs in Ain-Shams university hospital. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 20 patients were exposed to conventional phototherapy and 20 patients were exposed to LED phototherapy and the other 20 healthy full term were assigned as control group. Total serum bilirubin (TSB), direct serum bilirubin (DSB), CBC, CD4 and CD8 percentages and absolute count were measured before and 48 h after phototherapy in the phototherapy groups. Baseline lab was done in the control group at once.