WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Arwa Youssef *, Abdul Moneim Ghanem and Hala Yanni

ABSTRACT

Background: Thrombocytopenia as a side effect of phototherapy has not been mentioned in standard literature but was described briefly as isolated case reports after the phototherapy. Though there are few studies on effect of phototherapy on platelet count with conflicting results. Aim and Objective: This study was done to determine the relationship between thrombocytopenia and its severity in neonates with uncomplicated indirect hyperbilirubinemia receiving conventional phototherapy. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out over a period of one year (1st September 2020 to 1st September 2021) on 56 neonates admitted with idiopathic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy through consecutive enrolment. Serum bilirubin (total, conjugated and unconjugated) and platelet count were done before initiation, twenty-four hours after phototherapy and just after completion of phototherapy. Appropriate statistical tests were used to make statistical comparisons with a p-value of < 0.05 taken as significant. Results: Among 56 neonates, 30(53.6%) were males and 26(46.4%) were females; 23(41.1%) were preterm neonates and 33(58.9%) were term neonates. Mean birth weight was (2493.3 ± 420.2) g. Mean gestational age was (36.94 ±1.6) weeks. The mean duration of phototherapy required was (32.87±5.7) hours. Mean platelet count before initiation, 24 hours after phototherapy and just after completion of phototherapy were (286.25 ±46.3) ×10?/L, (249.82±78.7) ×10?/L and (233.96±94.1) ×10?/L respectively. Decrease in platelet count 24 hours after phototherapy and just after completion of phototherapy was statistically significant (P-value=0.0001). Thrombocytopenia was seen in 14 neonates (25%) and type of severity was mild and moderate in 10(71.4%) and 4(28.6%) respectively but none developed sever thrombocytopenia. None having thrombocytopenia manifested with clinical bleed. Fall in platelet count was found to have a positive association with increased duration of phototherapy and in preterm neonates (P-value0.05) between reduction in platelet count with gender and birth weight. Conclusion: we found that there was a significant association between phototherapy and thrombocytopenia in hyperbilirubinimic neonates but the thrombocytopenia was mostly mild and transient, and clinically insignificant. There was significant association between decrease of platelet count with duration of phototherapy and preterm neonates.

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