Randomized controlled trial of light-emitting diode phototherapy.
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.
Maisels
M J
MJ
Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. jmaisels@beaumont.edu
Kring
E A
EA
DeRidder
J
J
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
D001663:Bilirubin