Clinical features according to the frequency of phototherapy and clinical risk factors on the number of phototherapy were investigated in premature births with gestation <35 weeks and birth weight ≤2,500 g.

The 186 infants with gestation <35 weeks and birth weight ≤2,500 g were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kosin University Gospel Hospital from March 2009 to August 2010. The 171 infants were alive and had jaundice requiring phototherapy. Phototherapy was usually started to 50-70% of the maximal bilirubin level. They were divided into two groups according to the frequency of phototherapy as single phototherapy group (group I) and multiple phototherapy group (group II). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients.

The mean gestational age and birth weight of group I were 31.0±2.9 weeks and 1,596±485 g and those of group II were 31.1±2.6 weeks and 1,592±430 g. Compared with group I, albumin and Apgar score at 1 minute of group II were significantly higher and the day of peak bilirubin was also late. Duration of phototherapy in group II was statistically longer than that group I but duration of ventilator and aminophylline use for apnea was significantly shorter. The frequency of antibiotic use, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of group II were significantly lower than those of group I.

The day of peak bilirubin was late and the frequency of antibiotic use, incidence of BPD, and IVH were low in group II. The aggressive phototherapy may be considered in premature births with jaundice.