Incidence of thrombocytopenia in hyperbilirubinemic neonates during phototherapy

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia has been reported as a complication of phototherapy. In this study the effect of conventional phototherapy on platelet count was studied in 101 newborns with indirect hyperbilirubinemia, out of whom 50 patients (49.5%) had decreased levels of platelets; 20 (19.8%) of the latter had a platelet count of below 100000/mm3. Decreased platelet count was maximum during the first 24 hours of phototherapy. Ultrviolet light may increase plateled turnover and injury during phototherapy by and unkown mechanism.