EVALUATION OF A NEW CRITERIA FOR PHOTOTHERAPY (PT) IN HEALTHY TERM INFANTS WITH NON-HEMOLYTIC JAUNDICE. • 1091

Controversy exists in the management of term healthy infants with non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia. Less strict criteria for PT have been proposed without evaluation in controlled clinical trials. A prospective controlled randomized trial was designed to compare the prevalent criteria for PT in our country (curve A) with a new criteria (curve B). We hypothesized that the need for hospitalization for PT would decrease and that adherence to full breastfeeding would be higher with the new criteria without increasing the risk of reaching bilirubin levels (bili) > 25mg/dl. Methods: 288 healthy term infants with bili above curve A were eligible for the study. After written consent they were randomized 1:3 to curve A with PT or to curve B with daily bili and PT when bili was above this curve. PT was discontinued when bili was decreasing and fell under the respective curve. Daily follow-up was continued until bili was ≤ 15 mg/dl. Statistical analysis was performed using X² and t test. There were no differences in birth-weight, gestational age, gender and Apgar scores. Results:Figure TableConclusion: The new criteria resulted in a significant reduction in indication of PT, in length of hospital stay and in a higher adherence to full breastfeeding. The risk of reaching bili > 25mg/dl and ET were not increased.

Table 1