Background: Neonatal jaundice in the first week of life is a common problem in the newborn; it is due to an imbalance of bilirubin production and its elimination which can lead to significantly elevated levels of circulating bilirubin (hyperbilirubenemia).
Aim of the Work: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phototherapy on the immunological status of newborn.
Patients & Methods: This is a prospective randomized simple descriptive follow up study that was conducted on 75 jaundiced neonates ≥37 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Al Hussein University Hospital in a period from October 2016 to September 2018. Our cases were divided into three groups according to level of billrubin and type of phototherapy: Group (1) 25 neonates with billrubin level 16-18 mg/dL under single phototherapy, Group (2) 25 neonates with billrubin level >18 to 22 mg/dL under double phototherapy, Group (3) 25 neonates with billrubin level >22 mg/dL under intensive phototherapy and 25 apparently healthy neonates with physiological jaundice as control group. The history, general and local examinations and specific investigations were done by measuring IL6, IL10, CD19, CD4 and CD8.
Results: There is no difference between demographic data and level of IL6, IL10, CD19, CD4 and CD8 on all studied groups and there is significant increase between control group and groups exposed to single, double, intensive phototherapy in IL6 only and there are no changes in IL10 levels and CD19, CD4, CD8 percent after exposure to phototherapy
Conclusion: Phototherapy used in treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can affect the level of cytokines IL6 and no effect on IL10 or B19 and CD4, CD8.
Recommendations: Avoid unnecessary exposure to phototherapy to avoid possible immunological impacts on immune systems.