Comparison of phototherapy with ursodeoxycholic acid versus phototherapy alone in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia alone.

Objective: To compare the mean duration of phototherapy in neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinemia undergoing phototherapy with ursodeoxycholic acid versus phototherapy alone. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: 20th September 2023 to 19th March 2024. Methods: A total of 60 neonates of both genders, presenting within 3-7 days of life with Jaundice were included. Infants with ABO and Rh incompatibility, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert syndrome, hypothyroidism and the infants with diabetic mothers were excluded. The treatment was assigned according to the following plan – Intervention group: In addition to phototherapy, the patients in this group were administered oral ursodeoxycholic acid suspension in a dose of 30 mg/kg/day every 12 hourly. Comparison group: Patient in this group received phototherapy only. The distance between the phototherapy units and baby was kept 30 centimeters. Bilirubin estimation was done spectrophotometrically using diazo reagent by Malloy and Evelyn method until bilirubin levels fall < 10 mg/dl. Duration of phototherapy to achieve this level was noted. Results: The mean age of neonates was 3.89 ± 1.13 days; 58.3% were male. The mean duration of phototherapy in the UDCA group was 1.57 ± 0.68 days, significantly shorter compared with 4.40 ± 1.07 days in the phototherapy-only group. Conclusion: This study has shown that duration of phototherapy for bringing bilirubin < 10 mg/dl is lower in ursodeoxycholic acid group compared to phototherapy alone in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.