REBOUND BILIRUBIN LEVELS IN INFANTS RECEIVING PHOTOTHERAPY

A retrospective medical record review was completed for 264 consecutiv e newborns receiving phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia to determine whether a ''rebound'' increase in total serum bilirubin (TSB) level oc curs after termination of phototherapy. The difference between mean TS B levels at discontinuation of phototherapy and at rebound was calcula ted by paired t test. TSB levels at rebound were significantly lower t han at discontinuation of phototherapy for infants weighing >1800 g (p ositive and negative Coombs' test results). There were no statisticall y significant differences among infants in the smaller weight categori es, regardless of Coombs' test results. Infants completing phototherap y for hyperbilirubinemia who are otherwise healthy do not require foll ow-up solely to identify a rebound bilirubin level.