Transepidermal water loss during halogen spotlight phototherapy in preterm infants

Among preterm infants there is a relationship between skin blood flow and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The aim of this study was to assess whether halogen spotlight phototherapy without significant heat stress increases TEWL and affects maintenance fluid requirements in preterm infants. TEWL was measured noninvasively before the start and after 1 h of halogen spotlight phototherapy in a group of preterm infants, nursed in double-walled incubators with moderately high relative humidity. Relative humidity and ambient temperature in the incubator were tightly controlled. Mean +/- SD birth weight of the 18 infants was 1412 +/- 256 g, gestational age 30.6 +/- 1.6 wk, and age at measurement 5 +/- 3 d. Nine infants received ventilatory assistance. Relative humidity was 40-80% (mean 52%). Average TEWL increased from 13.6 to 16.5 g/m(2)/h during phototherapy. These data show that TEWL increases by approximately 20% during phototherapy despite constant skin temperature and relative humidity. Maintenance fluids of preterm infants should be increased by 0.35 mL/kg/h during exposure to halogen spotlight phototherapy.