Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Phototherapy — Traditional and Nontraditional

Journal of Perinatology volume 21, pages S93–S97 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

An observation by an English nurse in 1956 led to the discovery that visible light could lower serum bilirubin levels in newborn infants, and subsequent research showed how photons of light energy are absorbed by the bilirubin molecule converting it into isomers that are readily excreted by the liver and the kidney. Understanding the dose–response effect and other factors that influence the way light works to lower bilirubin levels has led to the effective use of phototherapy and has eliminated the need for exchange transfusion in almost all jaundiced infants.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cremer RJ, Perryman PW, Richards DH Influence of light on the hyperbilirubinemia of infants Lancet 1958 1 1094–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dobbs RH, Cremer RJ Phototherapy Arch Dis Child 1975 50 833–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lucey J, Ferreiro M, Hewitt J Prevention of hyperbilirubinemia of prematurity by phototherapy Pediatrics 1968 41 1047–54

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lucey JF Phototherapy of jaundice 1969 Birth Defects, Orig Artic Ser 1970 6 63–70

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Maisels MJ Neonatal jaundice In: Sinclair JC, Bracken MB, editors. Effective Care of the Newborn Infant Oxford: Oxford University Press 1992 p. 507–61

  6. Maisels MJ Is exchange transfusion for hyperbilirubinemia in danger of becoming extinct? Pediatr Res 1999 45 210A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Guaran RL, Drew JH, Watkins AM Jaundice: Clinical practice in 88,000 liveborn infants Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 1992 32 186–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Valaes T, Koliopoulos C, Koltisdopoulos A The impact of phototherapy in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: Comparison of historical cohorts Acta Paediatr 1996 85 273–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Keenan WJ, Novak KK, Sutherland JM Morbidity and mortality associated with exchange transfusion Pediatrics 1985 75 417–21

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. van de Bor M, van Zeben-van der Aa TM, Verloove-Vanhorick SP, et al Hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age: Results of a national collaborative survey Pediatrics 1989 83 915–20

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. O'Shea TM, Dillard RG, Klinepeter KL, et al Serum bilirubin levels, intracranial hemorrhage, and the risk of developmental problems in very low birth weight neonates Pediatrics 1992 90 88–92

    Google Scholar 

  12. Tan KL The pattern of bilirubin response to phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia Pediatr Res 1982 16 670–4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Maisels MJ Why use homeopathic doses of phototherapy? Pediatrics 1996 98 283–7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Maisels MJ Jaundice In: Avery GB, Fletcher MA, MacDonald MG, editors. Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn Philadelphia: JB Lippincott 1999 p. 765–819

  15. ECRI Fiberoptic phototherapy systems Health Devices 1995 24 134–50

    Google Scholar 

  16. Garg AK, Prasad RS, Hifzi IA A controlled trial of high-intensity double-surface phototherapy on a fluid bed versus conventional phototherapy in neonatal jaundice Pediatrics 1995 95 914–6

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tan KL Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice Clin Perinatol 1991 18 423–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Holtrop PC, Ruedisueli K, Maisels MJ Double versus single phototherapy in low birth weight newborns Pediatrics 1992 90 674–7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Tan KL Comparison of the efficacy of fiberoptic and conventional phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia J Pediatr 1994 125 607–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hansen TWR Acute management of extreme neonatal jaundice — the potential benefits of intensified phototherapy and interruption of enterohepatic bilirubin circulation Acta Paediatr 1997 86 843–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tan KL, Lim GC, Boey KW Efficacy of “high-intensity” blue-light and “standard” daylight phototherapy for non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia Acta Paediatr 1992 81 870–4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mills JF, Tudehope D Fiberoptic phototherapy for neonatal jaundice In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1 Oxford: Update Software 2001

  23. Pezzati M, Biagiotti R, Vangi V, et al Changes in mesenteric blood flow response to feeding: conventional versus fiber-optic phototherapy Pediatrics 2000 105 350–3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Seidman DS, Moise J, Ergaz Z, et al A new blue light-emitting phototherapy device: A prospective randomized controlled study J Pediatr 2000 136 771–4

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA

    M Jeffrey Maisels MB, BCh

Authors
  1. M Jeffrey Maisels MB, BCh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maisels, M. Phototherapy — Traditional and Nontraditional. J Perinatol 21 (Suppl 1), S93–S97 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210642

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210642

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links