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.