Authors: Mohsen Saleh Elalfy Nancy Samir Elbarbary Heba Wegdan Abaza
Publish Date: 2010/10/06
Volume: 170, Issue: 4, Pages: 461-467
Abstract
Phototherapy is the standard treatment in moderately severe hemolytic disease of newborn HDN whereas exchange transfusion ET is the second line in progressive cases Intravenous immunoglobin IVIG has been suggested to decrease the need for ET We aimed at assessing the efficacy of early twodose regimens of IVIG to avoid unnecessary ET in severe Rh HDN The study included 90 fullterm neonates with Rh incompatibility unmodified by antenatal treatment and not eligible for early ET and which were randomly assigned into one of three groups group I treated by conventional method groups IIa and IIb received IVIG once at 12 h postnatal age if PT was indicated in a dose of 05 and 1 g/kg respectively Analysis revealed 11 neonates 22 in the conventional group and 2 5 in the intervention group who administered lowdose IVIG at 12 h while none in group IIb required exchange transfusion p = 003 Mean bilirubin levels were significantly lower during the first 96 h in the intervention group compared to the conventional group p 00001 Shorter duration of phototherapy 528 ± 1239 h and hospital stay 325 ± 071 days in the IVIG group compared to conventional group 84 ± 1212 h and 472 ±078 days p 00001 respectively were observed We conclude that IVIG administration at 12 h was effective in the treatment of severe Rh HDN the lowdose IVIG 05 g/kg was as effective as high dose 1 g/kg in reducing the duration of phototherapy and hospital stay but less effective in avoiding exchange transfusion
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