Transepithelial Electric Potential Difference in Newborns Undergoing Phototherapy

ABSTRACT: When hyperbilirubinemic newborn babies underwent phototherapy, a significant decrease of the transepithelial electric potential difference of duodenal mucosa was observed, while the content of nonconjugated bilirubin and photobilirubins in the duodenal juice increased. This may indicate that the mucosa barrier function is damaged by bilirubin, with resulting increased sodium and water secretion into the gut. This phenomenon seems to be one of the reasons for diarrhea which is frequently observed in newborns undergoing phototherapy. Further investigations are necessary to understand the mechanism of bilirubin toxicity of the gut in detail.