Study of calcium homeostasis during laser phototherapy for the treatment of neonatal jaundice

ABSTRACT

The effect of laser phototherapy, as a recent line of treatment of neonatal jaundice, on calcium homeostasis has been investigated in 30 jaundiced fullterm appropriate for gestational age neonates. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia with total serum bilirubin >12mg/dL but not reaching an exchange transfusion level was treated by laser phototherapy with a power of 400 mw and wave length selection 488 nm. Duration of exposure ranged from 1 -3 hours and was discontinued when serum bilirubin dropped to 10 mg/dL or less. After laser phototherapy, the results showed a highly significant decrease of serum bilirubin [P<0.001], but the serum calcium was insignificantly changed [P>0.05]. There was no significant difference [P>0.05] between males and females in the mean change in serum bilirubin and the mean change in serum calcium before and after laser therapy. The mean serum calcium after laser phototherapy in the study group was insignificantly changed from the control mean serum calcium [P>0.05]. Laser phototherapy is an effective and safe treatment for neonatal jaundice. It has no hypocalcaemic effect in fullterm neonates, however its effect in preterm and small for gestational age is to be investigated