Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of late anaemia in infants with rhesus haemolytic disease (RHD) who had received intensive phototherapy. Sixty infants with RHD and with strongly positive direct Coombs' tests who had received intensive phototherapy (blue double light) were followed as out-patients with regard to development of late anaemia. Fifteen (25%) infants developed moderate anaemia and 5 (8%) severe anaemia, one of the latter requiring a blood transfusion. The incidence of late anaemia was equal in "non-exchanged" infants and those who required exchange transfusion. The former developed anaemia significantly earlier than the latter, and in both groups the declining Hb level caused a marked reticulocyte response which was equal in both groups. This response may explain the low incidence of anaemia in both the "non-exchanged" and "exchanged" infants. From the present study and previous investigations it can be concluded that phototherapy, especially intensive phototherapy, is of great value in the treatment of rhesus haemolytic disease.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
