Effect of phototherapy with turquoise vs. blue LED light of equal irradiance in jaundiced neonates.
BACKGROUND
Blue light with peak emission around 460 nm is the preferred treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, studies using fluorescent light tubes have suggested that turquoise light with peak emission at 490 nm may be more efficient. At present, the predominant light source for phototherapy is light emitting diodes (LEDs). Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the bilirubin-reducing effect in jaundiced neonates treated either with turquoise or with blue LED light with peak emission at 497 or 459 nm, respectively, with equal irradiance on the infants.


METHODS
Infants with gestational age ≥33 wk and uncomplicated hyperbilirubinemia were randomized to either turquoise or blue LED light and were treated for 24 h. The mean irradiance footprint at skin level was 5.2 × 10(15) and 5.1 × 10(15) photons/cm(2)/s, respectively.


RESULTS
Forty-six infants received turquoise light and 45 received blue light. The median (95% confidence interval) decrease of total serum bilirubin was 35.3% (32.5; 37.3) and 33.1% (27.1; 36.8) for infants treated with turquoise and blue lights, respectively. The difference was nonsignificant (P = 0.53). The decrease was positively correlated to postnatal age and negatively to birth weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Using LED light of equal irradiance, turquoise and blue lights had equal bilirubin-reducing effect on hyperbilirubinemia of neonates.
Department of Paediatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.|Clinical Institute, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Finn
F
Ebbesen
Department of Paediatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Pernille K
PK
Vandborg
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Poul H
PH
Madsen
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Torleif
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2789-9920
T
Trydal
Department of Statistics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Lasse H
LH
Jakobsen
Neonatal and Development Medicine Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California.
Hendrik J
HJ
Vreman
D000367:Age Factors; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D016500:Color Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003718:Denmark; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D001663:Bilirubin