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Neonatal jaundice is a very common and potentially serious problem if bilirubin levels exceed a safe threshold. Thus, jaundiced babies require frequent monitoring, and often phototherapy (PT) to lower their plasma bilirubin concentrations (PBCs). During this period, parents are often distraught. Sn-mesoporphyrin (SnMP), a potent inhibitor of bilirubin production, may control severe jaundice and its attendant medical and emotional costs.
During a one-year period, all healthy, breast-fed, full-term babies born at one hospital in Argentina who had PBCs between 15 and 18 mg/dl at 48 to 96 hours of age were randomized to receive either a single intramuscular injection of SnMP (6 micromol/kg) or conventional care. Babies whose PBC reached 19.5 mg/…