OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) combined with Si Mo Tang in the treatment of neonatal jaundice and its effect on liver function, cardiac enzymes, immune function, serum transferrin (TRF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.METHODSThe clinical data of 149 infants with neonatal jaundice were collected retrospectively. The infants were grouped according to the treatment methods. All neonates were treated with blue light phototherapy. Besides, group A was treated with SAM-e, group B was treated with Si Mo Tang, and group C was treated with SAM-e combined with Si Mo Tang. The treatment efficacy, serum bilirubin level, neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) score, liver function, cardiac enzymes, immune function, serum TRF and CRP level were compared among the three groups before and after treatment.RESULTSThe total effective rate of treatment in group C was 96.00%, which was higher than group A (73.47%) and group B (78.00%) (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between groups A and B (P > 0.05). Compared with groups A and B, group C had higher NBNA scores, lower serum bilirubin levels, and lower serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels (all P < 0.05); however, there was no statistical differences in NBNA scores, serum bilirubin levels, serum AST and ALT, LDH, CK and CK-MB levels between group A and group B (all P > 0.05). Compared with groups A and B, group C showed higher CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, TRF levels and lower serum CRP levels (P < 0.05), while there was no statistical differences in CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, CD8+, TRF levels and serum CRP levels between group A and group B (all P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONSAM-e combined with Si Mo Tang promoted the regression of jaundice, improved liver function, neurodevelopmental conditions and the myocardial enzyme spectrum, reduced the level of inflammation, and improved the immunity of newborns with neonatal jaundice.