title: Randomized controlled trial of light-emitting diode phototherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wished to compare the efficacy of light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy with special blue fluorescent (BB) tube phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned 66 infants >or=35 weeks of gestation to receive phototherapy using an LED device or BB. In addition to phototherapy from above, all infants also received phototherapy from below using four BB tubes or a fiberoptic pad.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 15+/-5 h of phototherapy, the rate of decline in the total serum bilirubin (TSB) was 0.35+/-0.25 mg/dl/h in the LED group vs 0.27+/-0.25 mg/dl/h in the BB group (P=0.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LED phototherapy is as effective as BB phototherapy in lowering serum bilirubin levels in term and near-term newborns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. jmaisels@beaumont.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maisels
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kring
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeRidder
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin