PHENOBARBITAL PROPHYLAXIS OF NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA - EVALUATION OF A NIGHTLY DOSE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (5) , 607-610
Abstract
In an attempt to improve the success of a previous study of the prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia employing phenobarbital in a single 30 mg nightly dose from 32 wk gestation until delivery, 246 patients were tested against 270 control subjects. A 39% reduction in significant hyperbilirubinemia was realized, but this fell far short of previous findings with a larger dose. Premature infants received no apparent protection against jaundice. Mature infants had no severe jaundice (> 16 mg/100 ml), and resolution of hyperbilirubinemia was more rapid. No apparent difference in drowsiness or daytime sedation from previous experience was found. Female newborns responded much better (3:1) to prophylaxis. These disappointing results favor a return to the 1 g daily divided dose.