PEDIATRICS Vol. 80 No. 4 October 1987, pp. 593-594
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Phototherapy and Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PETER C. SCHEIDT MD, MPH1, DOLORES A. BRYLA MPH2, and HOWARD J. HOFFMAN MA2

1 Human Learning and Behavior Branch, Center for Research in Mothers and Children, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH, Landlow, 6C-09, Bethesda, MD 20204
2 Biometry Branch, Prevention Research Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD

To the Editor.—

Rosenfeld et al1 recently reported a positive relationship between phototherapy exposure and patent ductus arteriosus in small premature infants. In this study, 74 infants with birth weights less than 1,500 g with respiratory distress syndrome and prophylactic phototherapy for neonatal jaundice were randomly assigned to either receive chest shielding or full exposure to light. The two groups, which were otherwise similar with regard to size, gestational age, severity of respiratory distress syndrome, fluid intake, and duration of phototherapy, significantly differed with regard to the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (shield group 11/36 v no shield group 23/38, P = .009).