PHENOBARBITONE PROPHYLAXIS FOR NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA

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Abstract
In a controlled study of phenobarbitone prophylaxis for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, 133 term infants born of group O mothers were divided into three study groups. The first consisted of 45 control infants receiving no medication, the second of 44 infants born of mothers who received 30 mg of the drug every night for an average of 2 weeks before delivery, and the third of 44 infants given phenobarbitone 5 mg 8-hourly for an average of 3½ days beginning 6 to 8 hours after birth. The serum bilirubin of all infants was assessed daily for 6 days. Treated infants showed significant reduction of incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and of mean bilirubin levels as compared to the controls. Infants born of treated mothers showed similar beneficial effects, though such effects were much diminished in those with ABO incompatibility. Treatment of infants was more effective in lowering the bilirubin level than treatment of their mothers, perhaps because of the low dosage and short course used. Beneficial effects of phenobarbitone were attributed to enhancement of the impaired liver functions of the newborn.

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