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/Kg) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are described. In 7 of the 9 patients the rise of bilirubin level was attenuated and exchange transfusion was not required following treatment with IVIG. Of the two patients who did require an exchange transfusion despite IVIG treatment, one had the exchange performed immediately following the IVIG infusion, allowing no time for observation of the therapy effect. Our results suggest that IVIG administration may be efficacious in the treatment of immune hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn but further studies are required to validate the efficacy of this treatment.