Efficacy of phototherapy for hyperbilirubinaemia in infants with the respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of phototherapy for hyperbilirubinaemia in preterm infants with and without the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study of preterm infants cared for at Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore: 170 with RDS and 477 without RDS, sepsis or other complications (control group) presenting with non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia at about the same time were exposed to daylight phototherapy when bilirubin concentrations exceeded 255 mumol/L or 222 mumol/L if < 48 h of age. Bilirubin values were monitored 6-hourly during exposure, and daily for at least 2 days post-phototherapy.


RESULTS
The infants were comparable in birthweight, gestational age, postnatal age, haemoglobin, haematocrit and bilirubin values, at start. The response to phototherapy of the infants with RDS was comparable to that of the well preterm infants; the duration of exposure was 50.1 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- s.e.m.) versus 50.1 +/- 1.4 h, 24-hour decline rate 25.71 +/- 1.29% versus 26.32 +/- 0.65, and overall decline rate 0.96 +/- 0.03%/h versus 0.95 +/- 0.02%/h.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of RDS did not affect the efficacy of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in preterm infants.
Tan
K L
KL
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore.
Lim
G C
GC
Boey
K W
KW
D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications*; D012846:Singapore
D001663:Bilirubin