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SKIN OPTICS AND PHOTOTHERAPY OF JAUNDICE
Author(s) -
Pratesi Riccardo,
Ronchi Laura,
Cecchei Giovanna,
Sbrana Giuseppe,
Migliorini Maria Grazia,
Vecchi Corrado,
Donzelli Gianpaolo
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1984.tb04557.x
Subject(s) - absorption (acoustics) , wavelength , optics , fluorescence , visible spectrum , jaundice , materials science , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , medicine
The Kubelka–Munk theory of radiation transfer is applied to determine the influence of skin optical losses on the efficiency of phototherapy of jaundice. Using a multi‐layer model of the skin the photon absorption rate of bilirubin molecules is calculated for spectrally Gaussian light sources and fluorescent lamps used in phototherapy. Light absorption and scattering processes in the skin layers shift the optimum value of the peak excitation wavelength from λ= 453 nm (absorption maximum of bilirubin in vitro ) to λ= 480 nm. This suggests the clinical investigation of narrow‐spectrum lamps emitting in the blue‐green region of the spectrum.