Safe Threshold to Discontinue Phototherapy in Hemolytic Disease of Newborn

Overview

We hypothesized that adopting a lower rather than a higher threshold for phototherapy discontinuation will be associated with reduced rates of rebound hyperbilirubinemia in term and late preterm neonates with hemolytic disease of newborn. Objectives: The investigators aimed to compare the safety of implementing low-threshold, compared to high- threshold, of TSB for phototherapy interruption in term and late preterm neonates with hemolytic disease of newborn.

Neonates in high-threshold group phototherapy will be ceased if TSB level is 50-100 µmol/L below the appropriate 2004 AAP phototherapy threshold, whereas neonates in the low-threshold group phototherapy will be stopped if TSB reached ˃100 µmol/L below the AAP threshold. Phototherapy will be commenced for neonates in both groups according to AAP guidelines.Neonates will be treated with intensified overhead blue LEDs phototherapy if they have a TSB level at or above phototherapy threshold. Neonates will be started on intensified 360◦ LED phototherapy if they have TSB level within 50µmol/L below the exchange threshold. The administration of IVIG is indicated in infants with isoimmune hemolytic disease if TSB lies within 34 to 51 micromol/L of the threshold for exchange transfusion and not responding to initial intensified phototherapy.Infants with a TSB concentration above the thresholds for exchange should have immediate intensified 360◦ LED phototherapy, and preparation for exchange transfusion will be started.Infants showed clinical signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy will have an immediate exchange transfusion.

Conditions