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Effect of phototherapy in preterm infants on growth in the neonatal period
Insights
Phototherapy for preterm infants temporarily slows growth, but intermittent phototherapy shows less impact. Infants experience catch-up growth after treatment concludes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Growth Studies
- Phototherapy Research
Background:
- Preterm infants often require treatment for conditions like jaundice.
- Phototherapy is a common intervention, but its effect on infant growth is a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of continuous and intermittent phototherapy on preterm infant growth.
- To assess weight gain, body length, and head circumference changes during and after phototherapy.
Main Methods:
- 120 preterm infants were randomized into control, continuous phototherapy, and intermittent phototherapy groups.
- Growth parameters were monitored for 3 weeks, with phototherapy administered for the initial 5 days.
Main Results:
- Continuous phototherapy significantly reduced initial weight regain compared to controls.
- Intermittent phototherapy showed a less pronounced negative impact on early growth than continuous therapy.
- Both phototherapy groups exhibited catch-up growth in weeks 2 and 3, with less marked differences in length and head circumference.
Conclusions:
- Phototherapy can temporarily decrease preterm infant growth, potentially due to increased metabolic demands and reduced intestinal absorption.
- Intermittent phototherapy may be preferable to continuous therapy to minimize growth disruption.
- Subsequent catch-up growth suggests that the long-term effects of short-term phototherapy on growth may be limited.
Abstract:
A total of 120 preterm infants were randomly divided at 24 hr of age into three groups: Group I, controls; Group II, continuous phototherapy for 5 days; and Group III, intermittent phototherapy (12 hr on and 12 hr off) for 5 days. At the end of week 1 80% of the control group regained and surpassed their birth weight as opposed to 44 and 57.6% in the continuous and intermittent phototherapy groups, respectively. In weeks 2 and 3 both phototherapy groups had greater weight gain than the control group. Similar but less marked differences were observed in body lenth and head circumference in the three groups. Data suggest decreased growth during phototherapy with subsequent catch-up in growth during weeks 2 and 3. Differences were less marked between infants on intermittent (rather than continuous) phototherapy and controls. Increased metabolic demands and decreased intestinal absorption during phototherapy may be two of the factors responsible for the observed differences in growth in the three groups.