Association of patent ductus arteriosus and phototherapy in infants weighing less than 1000 grams.

To determine the relationship of phototherapy and patent ductus arteriosus, we analyzed prospectively collected data on 295 infants with birth weight of 501 to 999 gm admitted from 1984 through 1988. Seventy-four percent were evaluated by an imaging study to aid in the detection of a silent patent ductus arteriosus. Overall incidence of patent ductus arteriosus in the study population was 63%. Infants who received phototherapy (n = 128) had an increased incidence of patent ductus arteriosus compared with those who did not receive phototherapy (76% vs 53%). There was an association of patent ductus arteriosus and phototherapy (p < 0.05) when we analyzed the data with a stepwise regression model that controlled for the effects of gestational age, birth weight, gender, race, diagnosis of hyaline membrane disease, mechanical ventilation, patent ductus arteriosus imaging studies, prophylactic indomethacin, peak total and indirect bilirubin values, and the occurrence of abnormal serum sodium values. We conclude that the use of phototherapy is associated with an increased incidence of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low birth weight infants.