title: Effect of phototherapy on B and T lymphocytes in Egyptian infants suffering from neonatal jaundice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common problems that affect newborn infants, and phototherapy is usually used for treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the effect of phototherapy on neonatal immune system through measuring the percentage of B and T lymphocytes and determining the frequency of development of infections and need for hospitalisation during the first six months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted on 50 full term new-borns; 25 with indirect hyperbilirubinaemia and treated with conventional phototherapy and 25 healthy matched neonates as untreated controls. The percentages of CD19+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry before phototherapy and 72h after exposure. Follow-up of the study group for the occurrence of infections for a period of six months after phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed a significant difference in CD19+ lymphocytes percentage between patients before phototherapy and controls (P value<0.01), also a significant correlation between serum levels of total bilirubin in patients and CD19+ lymphocytes percentage (P value<0.05). There was no significant difference between the percentages of CD19+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in patients before or after 72h of exposure to phototherapy (P value>0.05). Also, there was no correlation between the percentages of CD19+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes after 72h of exposure to phototherapy and the occurrence of infections (Gastrointestinal tract and Respiratory tract infection) after six months of follow-up (P value>0.05). More studies are needed with larger number of patients to determine the effect of phototherapy on immune system.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics and Neonatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Eyada
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics and Neonatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: El Saie
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Neonatology Department, Shobra al Aam Hospital, Egypt.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ibrahem
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address: docnermoo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Riad
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000628:therapy*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: B lymphocytes; Indirect hyperbilirubinaemia; Neonates; Phototherapy; T lymphocytes