Randomized controlled trial of light-emitting diode phototherapy

Objective: We wished to compare the efficacy of light- emitting diode ( LED) phototherapy with special blue fluorescent ( BB) tube phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Study design: We randomly assigned 66 infants >= 35 weeks of gestation to receive phototherapy using an LED device or BB. In addition to phototherapy from above, all infants also received phototherapy from below using four BB tubes or a fiberoptic pad. Result: After 15 +/- 5 h of phototherapy, the rate of decline in the total serum bilirubin ( TSB) was 0.35 +/- 0.25 mg/ dl/ h in the LED group vs 0.27 +/- 0.25 mg/ dl/ h in the BB group ( P = 0.20). Conclusion: LED phototherapy is as effective as BB phototherapy in lowering serum bilirubin levels in term and near- term newborns.