Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in infants with erythroblastosis fetalis.

Abstract

In an attempt to identify the incidence of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in infants with erythroblastosis fetalis the records of 67 infants were reviewed. Twenty-two infants were found to have direct bilirubin concentrations greater than 1.0 mg./dl. Among 11 infants who underwent intrauterine exchange transfusion, nine (82%) had conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Of the remaining 56 infants without the procedure, only 13 (23%) showed evidence of this complication. To predict infants at risk of developing conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, the ratio of hematocrit and total bilirubin concentration in cord blood (H/B ratio) was examined.