High-Dose intravenous immune globulin therapy for hyperbilirubinemia caused by ABO incompatibility

ABSTRACT

Four newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia, caused by ABO blood group incompatibility, were treated with high-dose intravenous immune globulin(IVIG). As soon as the diagnosis was clinically suspected, these infants received conventional treatment including phototherapy and were monitored closely for bilirubin levels. When bilirubin concentrations reached the risk point in spite of phototherapy, IVIG was given at a dose of 1g/kg for 6 hours. In all cases, bilirubin levels declined within 12 hours after LVIG therapy, and to rebound effect was seen, No side effects of IVIG treatment were observed. We suggest that high-dose IVIG therapy may be useful in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia due to ABO incompatibility, and reduce the need for exchange transfusion.