Low-cost Home-use Light-emitting-diode Phototherapy as an alternative to Conventional Methods

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether a portable, light-weight, light-emitting-diode phototherapy unit designed for home use is as effective as conventional blue-light fluorescent phototherapy (CFP) for treating hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. Methods: A total of 50 patients were recruited sequentially for treatment using CFP (n = 25) and the home-type phototherapy unit (n = 25). Results: The average rate of decrease in bilirubin levels was 0.17 +/- 0.02 and 0.20 +/- 0.01 mg/dL/hours at the end of 24 hours in the groups receiving phototherapy by CFP and home-type phototherapy units, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of the decrease in bilirubin levels between the groups (p = 0.104). Conclusions: It has been shown that the home-type phototherapy unit is as effective as CFP units in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and has the potential to become a standard of care for treatment of jaundiced neonates.