LED phototherapies shown to help reduce jaundice in infants
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in which there is too much bilirubin in the blood. When red blood cells break down, a substance called bilirubin is formed. Babies are not easily able to get rid of the bilirubin and it can build up in the blood and other tissues and fluids of the baby’s body. Because bilirubin has a pigment or coloring, it causes a yellowing of the baby’s skin, eyes, and other tissues which is referred to as jaundice.
Hyperbilirubinemia results from a higher-than-normal level of bilirubin in the blood. For adults, this is any level above 170 μmol/l and for newborns 340 µmol/l and critical hyperbilirubinemia 425 µmol/l.
The research team headed by Danish researcher Finn Ebbesen, Departments of Paediatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark, tested the impact LED colors with a blue light peak emission of 459 nm and turquoise light with a peak emission range of 497 nm and equal irradiance on infants with hyperbilirubinemia.
Studies using fluorescent light tubes have suggested turquoise colored lights with a peak emission of 490 nm would be more efficient.
The researchers found by testing the lights on infants older than 33 weeks with uncomplicated hyperbilirubinemia in randomized turquoise or blue light for 24 hours
presented non-significant (p=0.53) differences in the total reduction of serum bilirubin.
Up to 46 infants were placed under turquoise and 45 blue light, resulting in a 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 researchers concluded both turquoise and blue lights were equally effective in reducing hyperbilirubinemia in infants.
Related articles and links:
www.nature.com/pr/journal/vaop/naam/abs/pr2015209a.html#author-information
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