Follow-up of intrauterine transfused surviving children

The long-term effects of intrauterine transfusion (IUT) are still being assessed since the procedure was first reported in 1963. Therefore, we undertook a follow-up study on the survivors of 57 infants who received IUT's between 1966 and 1975. Forty-two infants were born alive, but 15 died in the neonatal period. Overall survival was 27/57 (48%). An extensive follow-up examination was carried out at age 22 months to 10 years in 21/27 survivors. Height was below the third percentile in one child and head circumference above the mean and 2 SD in another. Of 21 children, 19 had normal vision, one was slightly myopic, and one had hyperopia. One child had unilateral high-frequency hearing loss. All had normal EEG's and none have mental retardation but 2/21 have "major" and 6/21 have "minor" neurologic signs. No evidence of passive antibody transfer was found, but minor disturbances of immunoglobulin levels were present.