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 turquoise light with peak emission at 490 nm may be more efficient. Presently, the predominant light source for phototherapy is light emitting diodes (LEDs).

AIM: Compare the bilirubin reducing effect in jaundiced neonates treated either with turquoise- or blue LED light with peak emission at 497 nm or 459 nm, respectively, with equal irradiance on the infants.

METHODS: Infants with gestational age ≥33 weeks and uncomplicated hyperbilirubinemia were randomized to either turquoise- or blue LED light from above, and were treated for 24 h. The mean irradiance footprint at skin level was 5.2x10(15) and 5.1x10(15) photons /cm(2)/s, respectively.

RESULTS: 46 infants received turquoise- and 45 blue light. The median (95% CI) 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 light, respectively. The difference was non-significant (p=0.53). The decrease was positively correlated to postnatal age and negatively to birth weight.

CONCLUSION: Using LED light of equal irradiance, turquoise- and blue light had equal bilirubin reducing effect on hyperbilirubinemia of neonates.Pediatric Research (2015); doi:10.1038/pr.2015.209.