Clinical overview of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia.

The most efficient emission spectrum of light for phototherapy is blue-green light emission diode light with peak emission at 478 nm. In the irradiance interval of phototherapy, the relationship between efficacy and irradiance is almost linear, and it is negatively related to the haemoglobin. The action sites of phototherapy are the extravascular compartment and cutaneous blood. The most immature neonates treated aggressively had not only a lower frequency of neurodevelopmental impairment than conservatively treated, but also greater mortality. Intermittent and continuous phototherapy are assumed to be equally efficient. Home-based fibreoptic phototherapy is effective and safe. Important progress is still occurring in phototherapy.