Loading...
Results from early studies in low birth weight infants suggest that phototherapy could increase risk for death. In a prospective multicenter study, investigators examined the effects of phototherapy in 1974 extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight, <1000 g). Infants were enrolled between 12 and 36 hours of age and stratified by birth weight (501–750 g and 751–1000 g) before being randomized to receive conservative or aggressive phototherapy during the first 14 days of life.
Conservative therapy was started and continued for 24 hours whenever bilirubin levels were ≥8 mg/dL in the 501–750-g group and ≥10 mg/dL in the 751–1000-g group. Aggressive phototherapy was started at enrollment and continued for 24 hours whenever bilirubin levels…