Determination of effect of low dose vs moderate dose clofibrate on decreasing serum bilirubin in healthy term neonates

Objective: This study was performed to determine the effect of low doses (25 mg/Kg) vs.moderate doses (50 mg/Kg) of clofibrate in treatment of non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia inhealthy term neonates.Material Methods: A clinical randomized controlled trial was performed in three groups ofhealthy term neonates. One group was treated with a single low dose of clofibrate (25 mg/Kg)while another group received a single moderate dose (50mg/kg) both orally plus phototherapy;the results were compared with those of a control group that received only phototherapy.Findings: The mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels of 12th and 24th hours were significantlylower in the two clofibrate-treated groups as compared with the control group (P=0.002 andP=0.003, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean ofTSB levels in the two clofibrate-treated groups. Treatment with clofibrate also resulted in ashorter duration of jaundice and a decreased use of phototherapy (P=0.01). No side effects wereobserved.Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that there was no significant difference between alow (25mg/Kg) and moderate (50mg/Kg) doses of clofibrate in reducing TSB levels and alsodecreased need of phototherapy in healthy breastfed term newborns with marked hyperbilirubinemia(TSB 16 mg/dL).