The effectiveness of phototherapy using blue-green light for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia – Danish clinical trials

The effectiveness of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia based on Danish clinical trials is presented. Randomized controlled trials on the quality of light showed that blue-green fluorescent light (peak emission at 490 nm) was more efficient than blue fluorescent light (peak emission at 452 nm); blue-green light-emitting diode (LED) light (peak emission at 478 nm) was more efficient than blue LED light (peak emission at 459 nm); and blue-green LED light (peak emission at 497 nm) was equivalent to blue LED light (peak emission at 459 nm). Bilirubin-reducing effects correlated with irradiance, dependent on hemoglobin concentration, and independent of rotating infants. Phototherapy from both above and below was more efficient than therapy applied only from above at high levels of irradiance. In conclusion, we estimate and recommend the use of blue-green LED light (peak emission at 480 nm) rather than blue light (peak emission at 460 nm) for treating of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.