A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Blood Exchange Therapy in Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Induced by ABO and Rh Incompatibility

This study challenges the prevailing view that hemolytic diseases of the newborn (HDN) associated with the Rh blood group system are more severe than those caused by the ABO system. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of exchange transfusion (ET) in managing HDN, with a focus on comparing treatment outcomes between ABO and Rh incompatibility cases.

A study enrolled 125 neonates diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia, comprising 66 males and 59 females. The gestational age of the neonates ranged from 33 to 41 weeks, and their birth weights varied between 2.11 to 4.3 kilograms. Based on the etiology of hemolysis, the study categorized 73 cases as ABO group and 52 as Rh group.

Post- ET, there was a significant reduction in serum total bilirubin (STB), serum indirect bilirubin (SIB), and platelet (PLT) counts (P<0.001). Pre- ET, differences in SIB and PLT were noted between neonates with ABO and Rh incompatibilities (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant disparities in the therapeutic effects of ET on STB, SIB, and PLT levels when comparing male and female neonates across both the ABO and Rh incompatibility groups.

Our study demonstrated that ET is efficacious in reducing bilirubin levels and platelet counts in neonates presenting with ABO and Rh blood group incompatibilities. Notably, the effectiveness of ET was found to be independent of the neonates' gender, a finding that underscores the universal applicability of this treatment approach. Our study observation contradicts the prevalent belief that HDN associated with the Rh system is inherently more severe than that linked to the ABO system. This revelation underscores the imperative for the swift implementation of ET in managing cases of severe hyperbilirubinemia.