Dose-response Relationship of Phototherapy for Hyperbilirubinaemia Using Diodes: is There a "Saturation Point"
Dose-response Relationship of Phototherapy for Hyperbilirubinaemia Using Diodes: is There a "Saturation Point"
Background: Using light emitting diodes (LED's) during conventional phototherapy it is
 possible to reduce the distance from light source to infant, thereby increasing light
 irradiance.

 Objective: To examine the relation between light irradiance and the rate of decrease in total
 serum bilirubin concentration (TsB) and to see if the investigators can identify a
 "saturation point", i.e. an irradiation level above which there is no further decrease in
 TsB.

 Design: Prospective randomised study. Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric
 Department, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

 Material and method: 151 infants with gestational age ≥ 33 weeks and uncomplicated
 hyperbilirubinaemia are randomised to one of 4 different distances from phototherapy device
 to mattress (20, 29, 38 and 47 cm). TsB is measured before and after 24 hours of phototherapy
 and irradiance every 8th hour. Main outcome measure is 24 hours decrease of TsB expressed in
 percent (∆ TsB0-24 (%)).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Gestational age ≥ 33 weeks

 -  Uncomplicated neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  < 33 weeks

 -  infants in incubators