Phenobarbital prophylaxis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Evaluation of a nightly dose.
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 weeks' 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 (more than 16 mg/100 ml) and the 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.
D001724:Birth Weight; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy
D010634:Phenobarbital