INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN THERAPY IN NEONATAL IMMUNE HEMOLYTIC JAUNDICE

Nine cases of newborn patients who developed hyperbilirubinemia due to blood group incompatibility and were treated with high dose (1 gram/K g) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are described. In 7 of the 9 pati ents the rise of bilirubin level was attenuated and exchange transfusi on was not required following treatment with IVIG. Of the two patients who did require an exchange transfusion despite IVIG treatment, one h ad the exchange performed immediately following the IVIG infusion, all owing no time for observation of the therapy effect. Our results sugge st that IVIG administration may be efficacious in the treatment of imm une hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn but further studies ar e required to validate the efficacy of this treatment.