ABSTRACT
The aim of this work is to look for apoptosis and markers of oxidative stress during phototherapy of neonates complaining of hyperbilirubinemia in order to know the optimum type, dose and duration of phototherapy application, so as to avoid unnecessary prolonged exposure of the neonate to the laser light and its hazards. The plan was to assess apoptosis in circulating lymphocytes, malondialdehyde serum level [MDA] as a significant marker of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes e.g. superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathion peroxidase [GPx] in various phototherapy light wavelengths. The results revealed that the serum antioxidant enzymes were higher in the control group than in the neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Apoptosis and serum MDA were higher in neonates after exposure to phototherapy. Blue light has the greatest ability to reduce serum bilirubin, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis, followed by the combined and then the white light. Combined light is better regarding reduction of bilirubin than the white light. Phototherapy has no or little and variable effects on antioxidant enzymes
Conclusion: The use of phototherapy in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia needs an intelligent judgment, giving more care to the type of light used and period of exposure. The various types of phototherapy light have different effects. 30 we recommend more expansion of the use of combined blue and white light, more than the blue light or the white light alone, as it has less side effects and satisfactory serum bilirubin reduction. More researches should be done for more elucidation of the effects of phototherapy on neonates, whether these effects are permanent or not and whether they have any clinical harmful effects