Hemolytic Anemia Induced by Light Therapy in Jaundiced Rats 1

Summary

In jaundiced Gunn rats, but not in nonicteric animals, light therapy induced a moderate fall in hematocrit accompanied by reticulocytosis and diminished plasma haptoglobin concentration. There was decreased ⁵¹Cr sequestration in the spleens of these animals, suggesting that the hemolysis was intravascular. Hematocrits rose again progressively after the first few days of light therapy, but the other parameters reflected continuing hemolysis with improved marrow compensation. Plasma bilirubin concentration fell in all animals studied. Hence, the increase in bilirubin production caused by this moderate hemolytic anemia was more than offset by light-induced enhancement of bilirubin excretion. However, it is possible that light-induced hemolysis could sometimes interfere with the beneficial effect of phototherapy, on hyperbilirubinemia.