Phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in mature newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency.

Phototherapy was employed in treatment of newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency whose serum bilirubin concentrations exceeded 10 mg/100 ml on the second or third day of life. Exchange transfusions were required for two of the 12 treated babies and for six of the 12 control infants. It is noteworthy that exposure to light did not affect the erythrocyte GSH content nor did it increase hemolysis.