Abstract
In 22 newborn infants subjected to phototherapy because of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, plasma growth hormone (GH) was measured before, during, and after treatment. 105 healthy, full tern nursery infants served as control group. GH concentrations in the healthy neonates were 20.4 (SD) ng per ml on the first, 23.2 ± 7.0 on the 2nd day of life and then slowly declined (14.4 ± 4.7 on the 7th, 8.5 ± 1.7 on the 10th day). Those values, calculated seperately for each day, were taken as 100%. Phototherapy increased GH concentrations to 195 ± 108 %. Before and after irradiation, GH plasma levels were close to those registered in the nursery infants. The differences are statistically highly significant. Constant covering of the eyes, deprivation of the day-night rhythm, or other environmental alterations such as are brought about by incubator care could be at reason for this increase in GH levels.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ernst, K., Mühlendahl, V. & Ballowitz, L. PHOTOTHERAPY INCREASES PLASMA GROWTH HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN NEONATES. Pediatr Res 9, 689 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00134
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00134