Abstract
Background:
Phototherapy using blue light is the treatment of choice worldwide for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, treatment with turquoise light may be a desirable alternative. Therefore, the aim of this randomized, controlled study was to compare the bilirubin isomer distribution in serum of jaundiced neonates after 24 h of therapy with narrow-band (LED) light centered at 497 nm (turquoise) vs. 459 nm (blue), of essentially equal irradiance.
Materials:
Eighty-three neonates (≥33 wk gestational age) with uncomplicated hyperbilirubinemia were included in the study. Forty neonates were exposed to light centered at 497 nm and 43 infants with light centered at 459 nm. Irradiances were 5.2 × 1015 and 5.1 × 1015 photons/cm2/s, respectively.
Results:
After 24 h of treatment no significant differences in serum concentrations of total bilirubin isomers and Z,Z-bilirubin were observed between the 2 groups. Interestingly, concentrations of Z,E-bilirubin, and thus also total bilirubin isomers formed during therapy, were highest for infants receiving light centered at 459 nm, while the concentration of E,Z-bilirubin was highest for those receiving light centered at 497 nm. No significant difference was found between concentrations of E,Z-lumirubin.
Conclusion:
Therapy with LED light centered at 497 nm vs. 459 nm, applied with equal irradiance on the infants, resulted in a different distribution of bilirubin isomers in serum.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Stephanie Kourula, PhD and Benjamin K. Cline, MS for technical assistance and valuable discussions. Ronald J. Wong, BA, is thanked for critical review of the manuscript. We are grateful to Rami Vardi of Bright Light LED, (Canoga Park, CA) for technical support and donation of the LED tubes and driver.
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Ebbesen, F., Madsen, P., Vandborg, P. et al. Bilirubin isomer distribution in jaundiced neonates during phototherapy with LED light centered at 497 nm (turquoise) vs. 459 nm (blue). Pediatr Res 80, 511–515 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.115
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.115
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