Phototherapy induced thrombocytopenia in neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia - a prospective cohort study

Phototherapy (PT) is one of the most common non invasive methods of treatment of choice for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in neonate. There are very few studies which show the effect of phototherapy on platelet count. So, this study done to show the effect of phototherapy on platelet count. This is a prospective hospital based cohort study on 100 eligible neonates admitted in the inborn section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) receiving phototherapy at Municipal General Hospital Mumbai, Maharashtra from June 2013 to May 2014. Serum bilirubin and CBC with Platelet count were performed before starting PT, 24 Hours (24 Hrs) after PT and 48 hours (48 Hrs) after PT or at discontinuation of PT .The results were analyzed statistically.A total of 100 neonates were included in our study of which 58 (58 %) were males and 48 (48%) were females. It was found that the Mean Platelet Count 24Hrs after Phototherapy was decreased as compared to the Mean Platelet Count before starting Phototherapy which was statistically significant ( p = 0.008).Our study proves that Phototherapy in newborns with Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia leads to decrease in platelet count.