The Indian Journal of Pediatrics

, Volume 84, Issue 10, pp 763–767 | Cite as

Clofibrate as an Adjunct to Phototherapy for Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia in Term Neonates

Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of oral clofibrate as an adjunct to phototherapy for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial was done in the level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital. Ninety term neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia with serum bilirubin 15–25 mg/dl were randomized to either intervention group (single dose of clofibrate in a dose of 50 mg/kg prior to starting phototherapy) or standard care group (only phototherapy). Primary outcome was absolute fall in bilirubin by 48 h. Secondary outcomes were duration of phototherapy, absolute fall in bilirubin levels at 12, 24, 36, 48 h, need for exchange transfusion and incidence of side-effects.

Results

After 48 h of intervention, significantly lower bilirubin levels were noted in the intervention group compared to standard care group with a mean difference of 7 mg/dl (95% CI 6.7 mg/dl to 7.2 mg/dl). Duration of phototherapy required was less in the intervention group compared to standard care group with mean difference of 23.82 h (95% CI 30.46 h to 17.18 h). Exchange transfusion was needed for 4 neonates in the standard care group and none in the intervention group. No side-effects were noted with clofibrate.

Conclusions

Single dose clofibrate prior to starting phototherapy in term neonates with uncomplicated unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia reduces the duration of phototherapy significantly.

Keywords

Newborn Hyperbilirubinemia Clofibrate Phototherapy 
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Notes

Contributions

PK: Collected and analyzed the data; BA: Helped with data analysis and drafted the manuscript; BVB: Supervised the study, edited the manuscript and will act as guarantor for the paper.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

None.

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Copyright information

© Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of NeonatologyJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)PondicherryIndia

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