Effect of Phototherapy on CD4, CD8 and Natural Killer Cells of Full Term Neonates with Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia.

Phototherapy is generally considered a very safe and well-tolerated treatment for hyperbilirubinaemia. However, clinical users should be aware of the unwanted effects of using phototherapy. Affection of neonatal immune system due to phototherapy has been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of phototherapy on level of CD4+, CD8+ and natural killer (NK) (CD16+ & CD65+) lymphocytes subsets in neonates. The number of these lymphocytes was measured 72 hrs after phototherapy exposure in 30 full term neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinemia and compared to those of 25 healthy controls using flow cytometry. Results showed non-significant changes of the tested lymphocyte subsets after 72 hrs exposure to phototherapy. In conclusion, phototherapy has no significant effect on the level of circulating CD4+, CD8+ and NK lymphocytes.