ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Jaundice is a common clinical problem in neonatal period which may result in brain damage even in healthy full term newborns, when it is severe. The aim of this study was to characterize the therapeutic effect of clofibrate in full term neonates who present with nonhemolytic jaundice. METHODS: A clinical controlled study was performed on 60 full term neonates who presented with non- hemolytic jaundice. 30 neonates were treated with a single oral dose of clofibrate (100 mg/Kg) plus phototherapy (case group), while 30 neonates received only phototherapy (control group). Both groups were compared in regard to post therapeutic mean total and indirect plasma bilirubin levels, admission duration and the rate of exchange transfusion. RESULTS: The reduction rate of total and indirect plasma bilirubin levels were significantly higher in the clofibrate- treated group as compared with the control group (P< 0.05). The mean duration of admission was found to be reduced from 2.9 +/- 0.9 days in the control groupl to 2.2 +/- 0.6 days in clofibrate- treated group (P=0.002). The mean plasma total bilirubin level was lower in the clofibrate- treated group. No cases required phototherapy after 48 hour in clofibrate- treated group, while 9 neonates (30%) and 2 neonates (6.7%) required phototherapy after 72 hour and 96 hour respectively in the control group. There was no difference between both the groups for sex, the time of developing jaundice and the rate of exchange transfusion. CONCLUSION: A single dose of clofibrate (100 mg/Kg) along with phototherapy is more effective than phototherapy alone in treating non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia in term healthy newborn infants.