Objectives: To assess the efficacy of SnMP in: a. moderating the need for phototherapy (PT) of full-term infants with plasma bilirubin concentrations (PBC) of 15-18 mg/dL; b. diminishing the time required for the PBC to decline to ≥ 13 mg/dL (closure of the case);c. lessening the need for bilirubin determinations for monitoring hyperbilirubinemia.

Subjects: Healthy full-term infants were enrolled with a PBC of 15 mg/dL - 18 mg/dL reached between 48 - 96 hours of age.

Design/Methods: After obtaining informed consent infants were randomized to the SnMP (6.0 μmol/kg BW, single dose I.M.) group or the control group. They were followed daily in hospital or at discharge as outpatients until hyperbilirubinemia subsided (PBC 13 mg/dL or less). The total number of infants enrolled was 84. Groups were similar in sex ratio, birth weight, gestational age, PBC and age at enrollment. PT was initiated at a PBC of 19.5 mg/dL.

Results: SnMP eliminated the need for supplemental PT (n=40; 0% PT) compared to controls (n=44; 27% PT) (P=0.0004); markedly diminished the hours to case closure (SnMP: median 86.5; min/max 24-216; controls median 120; min/max 72-336; [p=0.0006]) and significantly diminished the number of bilirubin determinations required for clinical monitoring (SnMP: median 3; min/max 1-9; controls: median 5; min/max 3-11) (p=0.0001). No SnMP-treated infants reached a PBC of 19.5 mg/dL; no side effects of SnMP use were detected.

Conclusion: A single dose of SnMP proved highly effective in eliminating the need for PT in severe hyperbilirubinemia in full-term newborns and in reducing use of medical resources for its management and the related, important and painful emotional costs for mothers and babies of this problem.