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Background: Neonatal jaundice is a transitional phenomenon affecting three out of five full-term newborns globally. Ursodeoxycholic acid could be beneficial in neonatal jaundice needing phototherapy.  METHODS: We searched PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library up to August 21 st , 2021, for articles to be reviewed. Meta-analysis using random-effects model was performed., Results: Eight studies involving 1116 neonates were chosen in this review; however, only five studies were included for meta-analysis. Phototherapy duration was significantly lower in the interventional group with high heterogeneities. Subgroup analysis of the phototherapy duration based on the risk of bias resulted in a shorter duration (mean difference (MD) = -17.82; 95% CI = -20.17 to -15.47; p =  < 0.001) with low heterogeneity in the treatment group. Secondary outcome focusing on mean total serum bilirubin showed a lower mean total serum bilirubin in 48 h post-treatment (MD = -0.43; 95% CI = -0.64 to -0.22; p =  < 0.0001) with low heterogeneities in Asian countries.", Conclusions: Ursodeoxycholic acid might be considered as a novel adjuvant therapy in neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia to shorten the phototherapy duration and lower the mean total serum bilirubin., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: This study compares the minimally invasive Bilistick and a noninvasive method with standard Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) measurement in preterm newborns receiving phototherapy. We assess the agreement of Transcutaneous Bilirubinometer (TcB) and Bilistick bilirubin measurements with standard TSB measurement in preterm infants receiving phototherapy., Methods: Bilirubin was measured by using TcB and Bilistick in 94 preterm infants in RSCM Jakarta Neonatal Ward from October 2016 to March 2017, with gestational ages of < 35 weeks, before phototherapy and after 24 and 48 h of phototherapy., Results: There was significant correlation before, at 24 and 48 h of phototherapy between TSB and either TcB (r = 0.874; r = 0.889; r = 0.878 respectively; p < 0.0001), or Bilistick (r = 0.868; r = 0.877; r = 0.918 respectively; p < 0.0001). The mean difference and limits of agreement before, at 24 and 48 h of phototherapy between TcB and TSB were 0.81 ± 1.51 mg/dL (- 2.14 to 3.77 mg/dL); 0.43 ± 1.57 mg/dL (- 2.66 to 3.51 mg/dL); 0.41 ± 1.58 mg/dL (- 2.69 to 3.50 mg/dL), respectively. For Bilistick they were - 1.50 ± 1.47 mg/dL (- 4.38 to 1.38 mg/dL); - 1.43 ± 1.47 mg/dL (- 4.32 to 1.46 mg/dL); - 1,15 ± 1.31 mg/dL (- 3,72 to 1,42 mg/dL), respectively., Conclusions: Both methods are reliable for measuring TSB before, during, and after phototherapy in preterm infants. TcB tends to overestimate while Bilistick underestimates TSB.