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 fl uorescent 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) of plasma 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 fl uorescent tubes can be more effective than the more expensive commercial super LEDs phototherapy device in decreasing plasma bilirubin.