Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
"Light" on Phototherapy-Complications and Strategies for Shortening Its Duration, A Review of the Literature
Irit Shoris1,2, Ayala Gover1,2, Arina Toropine1,2
1Department of Neonatology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb Street, P.O. Box 4940, Haifa 31048, Israel.
Insights
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, a common newborn condition, can be treated with phototherapy. While effective, complementary treatments may reduce phototherapy duration and side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a frequent metabolic issue in newborns, potentially leading to severe neurological damage or death.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing adverse neurological outcomes.
- Phototherapy is the primary treatment, but concerns about its short- and long-term side effects are emerging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review complementary treatments that can shorten phototherapy duration for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
- To present scientific and clinical evidence on the usefulness of these complementary measures.
- To raise awareness of phototherapy's potential side effects and the need to minimize exposure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on complementary treatments for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
- Analysis of scientific and clinical evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of various supportive measures.
- Evaluation of potential benefits and drawbacks of combining phototherapy with other interventions.
Main Results:
- Several complementary measures have been described to reduce the duration of phototherapy.
- Evidence supporting the unequivocal recommendation of any single complementary method is currently lacking.
- While generally safe, phototherapy can have mild or rare adverse effects that warrant minimization.
Conclusions:
- Caregivers should be aware of phototherapy's potential side effects and seek ways to minimize exposure.
- Complementary treatments may help reduce the necessary duration of phototherapy.
- Further research is needed to establish preferred complementary strategies that enhance phototherapy's effectiveness while minimizing risks.
Abstract:
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is an extremely common metabolic complication of the neonatal period which may be associated with bilirubin encephalopathy and even death. Adverse neurological consequences are preventable if a timely diagnosis and treatment are provided. Phototherapy is usually the preferred option to decrease hyperbilirubinemia. Although considered to be safe, evidence in recent years has shown that this treatment may not be free of side effects and short- and long-term unfavorable outcomes. These are usually mild or rare, but should be decreased or avoided if possible. Many useful complementary measures and treatments have been described that could shorten the duration of exposure to phototherapy. However, there is no current unequivocal recommendation to use any of the methods presented in this review. Our review aims to depict the wide range of possible complementary treatments to phototherapy, and to provide the scientific and clinical evidence available regarding their usefulness. It is essential that, while utilizing the full potential of phototherapy to treat hyperbilirubinemia, caregivers are aware of its side effects and possible inherent dangers, and seek ways to minimize the exposure to phototherapy to what is really needed for the newborn. Further studies are needed to clarify the preferred complementary treatments that could reduce the duration of exposure to phototherapy without impairing its effectiveness.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
01:22Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...