Intravenous immunoglobulin versus exchange transfusion in neonatal sepsis: a prospective study

ABSTRACT

Newborn infants are prone to septicemia and subsequent high mortality rate. We did a comparative study between intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG] and exchange transfusion [ET] in the treatment of neonatal sepsis as adjunctive therapy. Thirty two patients, suspected of sepsis with poor condition and having one or more poor prognostic signs sclerema, bleeding tendency, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, progressive decrease in the level of consciousness with or without convulsion, were admitted to this study. Seventeen of the above patients received IVIG and fifteen of them were treated by exchange transfusion beside systemic antibiotic therapy. The mortality rate was compared between the two groups, that was significantly lower in IVIG group 2/17 than in ET group 9/15 [P=0.008]. IVIG is therefore recommended in poor condition septic newborn infants