Main

Neonatal jaundice has the potential to cause both acute and chronic derangements in brain function (13). It is this potential for toxicity that motivates therapeutic intervention, most commonly phototherapy. Permanent and devastating brain damage due to kernicterus is rare but continues to occur even in industrialized countries (4). Whether more expedient and aggressive therapy might avoid or at least mitigate the damage in such cases is unclear.

Phototherapy causes several structural changes in the bilirubin molecule. The resulting stereoisomers are more polar than the predominant parent IXα (4Z, 15Z) isomer, which needs conjugation to be excreted (5). Photoisomers can be detected in serum and in varying degrees in bile and urine during phototherapy, and their more facile elimination compared with the natural form of the pigment is believed to account in part for the therapeutic effect of phototherapy in terms of lowering total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels.

The most rapidly formed photoisomer is one in which one of the bridging double bonds in bilirubin has undergone a cis-trans isomerization from a so-called Z (zusammen) configuration to an E (entgegen) configuration, thereby converting the normal biosynthetic 4Z, 15Z form of bilirubin to the 4Z, 15E isomer (5). The two other possible configurational isomers (lumirubin and 4E, 15Z) isomer are also formed rapidly, but to a lesser extent. The photochemical reactions that generate the configurational photoisomers occur in femto seconds or faster.

Several authors have studied the rate of appearance of photoisomers in serum during phototherapy (6,7). However, it is difficult to estimate the initial rate of appearance of photoisomers from those studies either because of the presence of significant amounts of photoisomers (12–18%) in samples taken even before phototherapy was begun or because early time points were not analyzed. It is unclear whether the photoisomers present in the initial samples were produced by exposure of patients to ambient light (8) or by accidental light exposure during collection and processing of the samples. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of appearance of the major 4Z, 15E photoisomer of bilirubin during the early stages of standard phototherapy as practiced in Norway.

METHODS

Design, subjects, and enrollment.

The study was observational and took place in the NICUs of Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, and Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway. Twenty infants who were due to receive phototherapy according to the Norwegian national guidelines (http://www.legeforeningen.no/asset/39055/1/39055_1.pdf) for such treatment were included. None of the infants had received phototherapy before enrollment. The parents of all infants gave written, informed consent to participation. The study was approved by the Norwegian Data Directorate and by the Health Region South-East Committee on Research Ethics, who imposed restrictions on the number of blood samples from each infant that could be collected and analyzed. The patients had a gestational age of 34 wk and 1 d ± 0 wk and 6 d (mean ± SD), range 27wk and 6 d to 41 wk and 0 d, and a birthweight of 2298 ± 243 g, range 900–5060. The age at start of phototherapy was 72 ± 81 h (mean ± SD; range 18–309 h).

Phototherapy setup.

Phototherapy was provided by BiliCompact (Weyer GmbH, Kürten-Herweg, Germany) fluorescent units, which contain ten 9-W, 12.7-cm length fluorescent bulbs (BAM/PL9/52, Ralutec 9W/71 G23). According to the manufacturer's spectra, these bulbs have broad Gaussian emission roughly from 400–525 nm with a peak at 450 nm and intense mercury emission lines at 405, 436, and 546 nm. The radiant power over the range 400–550 nm is given as 2.3 W and their “bilirubin-effective radiation intensity” as 20 W/m2 at a distance of 25 cm.

The units were positioned at a distance of 20–30 cm from the infants whenever possible. However, for premature infants in closed incubators, the distance was necessarily greater, up to 35–40 cm. Spectral power (irradiance × size of irradiated area) was enhanced by covering the bed/bassinet inside with white linen and by hanging white linen as curtains around the unit using specially adapted, locally made racks. Infants were treated naked, except for the use of eye protection. Whenever diapers were needed, these were reduced to the minimum practicable size. Irradiance was measured on the babies' top surface and in the flanks using the Pocket Ebi photometer (LMT Lichtmesstechnik; GmbH, Berlin, Germany). For comparison, a sample setup was also measured with the Air-Shields PR III Phototherapy Radiometer.

Sample collection and preparation.

Samples were drawn for determination of TSB and 4Z, 15E bilirubin at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min for the first 10 patients and at 0, 15, 60, 120, and 240 min for the next 10 patients. Nursery lights were dimmed according to Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) guidelines. Care was taken to work as much as possible in subdued light during blood collection, which typically took 1–2 min. Thereafter, blood samples were kept in dark containers at all times during transport and storage, and preparation by centrifugation and pipetting was performed under red or orange safe-lights.

Analysis of TSB and bilirubin isomers.

TSB was measured by co-oximetry on OMNI S/cobas b221 blood gas machines (Roche Diagnostics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland) immediately after collection. Serum was kept at −70°C and transported on dry ice for subsequent analysis of bilirubin photoisomers by HPLC (9).

The column used for HPLC was a Beckman-Altex Ultrasphere-IP 5-μm C-18 ODS column (25 cm × 0.46 cm) maintained at 37°C and fitted with a similarly packed precolumn (4.5 cm × 0.46 cm), and the eluant was 0.1 M di-n-octylamine acetate in methanol containing 5% (vol/vol) water at a flow rate of 0.75 mL/min. Eluted peaks were detected with an Agilent multiwavelength diode array detector at 450 nm (close to the absorbance maxima for 4Z, 15Z and 4Z, 15E bilirubins in the eluting solvent), and peak areas, measured by integration using HP ChemStation software, were corrected for differences in the absorbancies of photoisomers at 450 nm (9). Each frozen serum sample was thawed to 4°C, and a 20-μL aliquot was immediately diluted into 80-μL 0.1-M di-n-octylamine acetate in methanol, vortexed and microfuged rapidly, and the supernate was injected onto the column via a 20-μL loop. The proportion of 4Z, 15E bilirubin, relative to 4Z, 15Z bilirubin, was determined by comparison of peak areas. Relative, to the 4Z, 15E peak, the peak areas of other photoisomers were very small and less accurately measurable. Because the focus of the study was the most rapidly formed isomer, data on the concentrations of other isomers were not included.

Statistics.

Statistical analyses were done by t tests, Tukey's multiple comparison test, and ANOVA using GraphPad Prism, (GraphPad Software, Inc., LA Jolla, CA).

RESULTS

Irradiance values on top surface and flanks, as well as TSB at the beginning and end of the study periods are shown in Table 1. Comparison measurements with the Air-Shields PR III Phototherapy Radiometer in sample setups yielded irradiance values in μW /cm2/nm, which were 5–10% higher in numerical values than the W/m2 values measured by the Pocket Ebi photometer. However, as the irradiance in actual patient setups in preliminary studies frequently exceeded the 36 μW/cm2/nm upper range of the Air-Shields PR III, this measuring device was not used for the actual study, and the relationship between the numbers measured by the two devices may not hold true above the upper range of the Air-Shields PR III.

Table 1 Irradiation and TSB values in patients treated with phototherapy

In the first group of 10 patients, the change in TSB values from start to end of the brief study period (0–120 min) was not statistically significant when contrasted with a paired, two-tailed t test. In the second group of patients, the reduction in TSB from 0–240 min was small but statistically significant (Table 1). The total duration of phototherapy (study period plus continued phototherapy as indicated by clinical guidelines) for all infants was between 7 and 45 h.

Formation of 4Z, 15E bilirubin was highly significant (F 79.06, p < 0.0.0001, one-way ANOVA), and at all time points starting from 16 min, the percentage of this isomer was significantly higher than at time 0 (p < 0.05, Tukey's multiple comparison test; Fig. 1. As seen from the graph, the actual sample collection time points were slightly later than the target times because of the time involved in sample collection.

Figure 1
figure 1

Formation of 4Z, 15E bilirubin as a percentage (mean ± SD) of TSB (4Z, 15E + 4Z, 15Z) in 20 jaundiced infants treated with phototherapy (F 79.06, p < 0.0001, one-way ANOVA). The difference from time 0 was significant from 15 min onward.

DISCUSSION

This study has shown that 4Z, 15E bilirubin, which begins to form as soon as an infant is exposed to phototherapy lights, is detectable in blood within 15 min. By this time, a mean of 10% of circulating bilirubin had undergone isomerization to 4Z, 15E bilirubin. Small amounts of other photoisomers were also detectable by HPLC but were not quantitated for this study.

In three patients, the proportion of 4Z, 15E bilirubin reached 14–15% of the total bilirubin after only 15 min of phototherapy. Interestingly, in two of them, irradiance values >40 W/m2 were measured on the body surface closest to the lights, whereas values >30 W/m2 were measured in their flanks. In the third patient, corresponding irradiance values were 30.2 and 18.6 W/m2, respectively. All three had high TSB values when phototherapy was started (315, 254, and 315 μM, respectively), and all three were relatively low birthweight, weighing 2670, 1760, and 1680 g, respectively.

Despite precautions to minimize exposure of samples to light, small amounts of 4Z, 15E bilirubin were present in blood even before phototherapy, although in much smaller amounts than in previous studies (6,7). Whether these isomers hail from the patient, or were the result of accidental ambient light exposure of blood samples during collection and preparation, cannot be answered from our study. The 4Z, 15E bilirubin has been demonstrated in nonjaundiced subjects exposed to daylight (8). Therefore, it may not be unreasonable to speculate that some photoisomer production will occur in jaundiced infants exposed to bright nursery lights. In recent years, pursuant to the introduction of NIDCAP (10) or similar care principles in many NICUs, ambient nursery lights are likely to be much more subdued than when earlier phototherapy studies were performed (11).

The 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines on management of neonatal jaundice (12) arbitrarily defined intensive phototherapy as an irradiance >30 μW/cm2/nm over the wavelength interval 430–490 nm. The mean irradiance value measured on the infants' uppermost surface (i.e. closest to the lights) in this study was 26.7 ± 7.8 W/m2 (wavelength interval 380–780 nm). In sample measurements with an older Air-Shields PR III Phototherapy Radiometer that yields values in μW/cm2/nm (wavelength interval 330–570 nm), the mean irradiance values in our study seem to be close to the range defined by the AAP as “intensive” despite the low wattage (9 W) and small size (≈13 cm) of the bulbs used in our units. However, as irradiance measurements may vary between devices depending on the calibration and type of irradiance meter, a meaningful correlation between our W/m2 measurements and the AAP definition is not possible.

In some previous studies, “360°” phototherapy was used, achieved either through specially constructed tube-shaped phototherapy units with cribs that had a translucent bottom or with the infant lying on a fiberoptic mat while receiving fluorescent phototherapy from above and sides (1315). Initial rates of photoisomer formation with these units are not well defined. Interestingly, using what were described as “special blue” bulbs (TL20/52), Myara et al. (7) observed conversion of >30% of the total bilirubin in the serum to Z/E photoisomers in neonates after 3 h of phototherapy, whereas, using 40-W “violet-blue” (Philips TL40/03) fluorescent tubes, Agati et al. (16) observed 25% of conversion within 6 h in an adolescent Crigler-Najjar type I patient. However, in both of those studies, the proportion of bilirubin photoisomers at time 0 was high (12–18%). The rate of photoisomerization is a function of the wavelength output of the lights, the intensity of the lights, the surface area of the baby exposed, and possibly the initial serum bilirubin level, whereas the percentage conversion of bilirubin to 4Z, 15E bilirubin is expected to increase with time to a photostationary value that is dependent only on the wavelengths emitted by the light.

The strength of this study is that the group of patients studied is representative of typical NICU populations regarding the distribution of birth weights and gestational ages. Because of the characteristics of Norwegian guidelines for therapy (which are similar to the AAP guidelines), some infants were treated at relatively low TSB levels. The phototherapy units we have used are commercially available and widely used. The use of white linen inside the crib and hung around the phototherapy unit to increase irradiance by reflection can be replicated anywhere using materials easily available and may increase the efficacy of phototherapy (17,18). Thus, the rates of bilirubin stereoisomer formation that we have found in this study are likely to be achievable in other NICUs as well.

It is noteworthy that after 2 h of phototherapy, the reduction of TSB levels from time 0 was not significant. This may seem somewhat surprising, given the substantial reductions in TSB levels that have previously been documented within the same time interval (19). However, in that study, the TSB levels were extreme, which predicts a more dramatic response to phototherapy. Significantly, 20% of TSB at 2 h was in the form of the 4Z, 15E photoisomer. If, as appears possible considering their physicochemical characteristics, photoisomers of bilirubin have less ability to cross the blood-brain barrier than the predominant IXα (Z,Z) isomer, this may translate into a lesser threat to the brain.

Kernicterus regrettably continues to occur, although with due precautions it ought to be avoidable. Reports of infants admitted with extreme jaundice and neurologic symptoms compatible with intermediate to advanced stage acute bilirubin encephalopathy keep surfacing among neonatologists. Recent publications suggest that intermediate to advanced stage acute bilirubin encephalopathy can occasionally be reversible in neonates (4,20,21), as also observed in adult patients with Crigler-Najjar syndrome (22). Expedient and aggressive treatment seems to be a common theme in these reports.

None of the patients in this study had any signs of bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction. Therefore, reversibility of neurotoxicity during the study period could not be assessed. Analysis of bilirubin in CSF might have answered the question of whether bilirubin efflux from the CNS is dependent on the relative concentrations of (Z,E) vs (Z,Z) bilirubin IXα in serum. However, extant Norwegian ethics rules would not have permitted repeated lumbar punctures for this purpose or is it likely that consent could have been obtained.

Herein, we have confirmed that formation of significant amounts of 4Z, 15E bilirubin occurs in phototherapy long before any alternative or adjunctive treatment could have been instituted. The clinical implications of converting such a large proportion of a major metabolite in the circulation to a different form, with a different three-dimensional structure, markedly different lipophilicity, and different serum albumin binding properties, are unknown. With respect to bilirubin toxicity, there are, a priori, three possibilities: the photoisomer has similar toxicity to the “natural” isomer; the photoisomer is more toxic; or the photoisomer is less toxic. Of these, the first is unlikely because of the different structures and physicochemical properties of the two forms and the need for pigment to enter the brain to cause toxicity. The second possibility also seems unlikely because countless phototherapy treatments over the last half-century seem never to have caused or exacerbated CNS toxicity. This leaves the third possibility; the most likely in view of the much lower lipophilicity of the photoisomer compared with the 4Z, 15Z isomer, which would be expected to make it less prone to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain. However, the magnitude of such an effect could be insignificantly small, and it remains unknown whether photoisomerization engenders a rapid detoxification process, as proposed long ago (23), or has little effect on the potential toxicity of all forms of bilirubin in the circulation.