title: The effect of clofibrate with phototherapy in late pre-term newborns with non-hemolytic jaundice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite an understanding of the enzymatic pathways leading to bilirubin production and degradation, very few pharmacologic interventions are utilized and the mainstay of treatment remains phototherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of clofibrate in reducing total serum bilirubin levels in late pre-term neonates with non-hemolytic jaundice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial; tertiary level neonatal unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled study was carried out in the neonatal ward of Children's Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, over a 1-year period. Sixty-eight healthy late pre-term infants readmitted with non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia were randomized to receive phototherapy and clofibrate (n= 35) or phototherapy and placebo (n= 33).
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square test and independent sample 't' test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the weight, gender, modes of delivery and age of neonates between the two groups. Similarly the mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) level at the time of admission was not significantly different between the two groups [mean+/- SD: 19.72 +/- 1.79 (95% confidence interval: 19.12-20.54 mg/dL) vs. 20.05 +/- 2.82 (95% confidence interval, 19.54-22.04 mg/dL), P= 0.57]. The mean TSB 48 hours after phototherapy [mean+/- SD: 8.06+/- 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 7.94-10.18 mg/dL) vs.10.94 +/- 2.87 (95% confidence interval: 9.92-12.16 mg/dL), P= 0.02] and the mean duration of phototherapy [mean+/- SD: 64.32 +/- 12.48 (95% confidence interval: 60-81.6 hours) vs. 87.84 +/- 29.76 (95% confidence interval: 79.2-108 hours), P< 0.001] were significantly lower in the clofibrate-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clofibrate is an effective adjunctive drug in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which results in decreased TSB level and reduced duration of phototherapy in late pre-term newborns.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Tabriz University, Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Sedigheh Hossein Pour
authors: SH
authors: Sakha
authors: Manizheh Mostafa
authors: MM
authors: Gharehbaghi
authors: Mohammad Ebrahim
authors: ME
authors: Rahbani
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy
chemical_list: D002994:Clofibrate; D001663:Bilirubin