title: Systematic review of intravenous immunoglobulin in haemolytic disease of the newborn.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HDIVIG) in reducing the need for exchange transfusion in neonates with proven haemolytic disease due to Rh and/or ABO incompatibility. To assess the effectiveness of HDIVIG in reducing the duration of phototherapy and hospital stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing HDIVIG and phototherapy with phototherapy alone in neonates with Rh and/or ABO incompatibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly fewer infants required exchange transfusion in the HDIVIG group (relative risk (RR) 0.28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.47); number needed to treat 2.7 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.8)). Also hospital stay and duration of phototherapy were significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDIVIG is an effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Liverpool Women's Hospital, UK. rgottstein@btinternet.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gottstein
authors.forename: R W I
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous