THE BRONZE BABY SYNDROME

''Bronze baby'' syndrome is a rare complication of phototherapy for ne onatal jaundice occurring due to modified liver function, particularly cholestasis, of various origins. We report a case which occurred in a premature infant who developed a grey-brown coloration during phototh graphy. The infant had haemolytic jaundice due to Rhesus incompatibili ty complicated by cholestasis of thick bile fluid. Abnormal accumulati on of unexcreted photoproducts due to the cholestasis appeared to be t he cause of the bronze coloration. The clinical course was favourable and the skin coloration returned to normal a few weeks after the end o f the phototherapy. It is essential to identify the underlying liver d isease in order to determine the prognosis of this syndrome.