Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis following intrauterine transfusions: is there an association?
The case of a neonate with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) following intrauterine transfusions (IUTs) for Rhesus hemolytic disease (RHD) prompted us to undertake a retrospective study (1995-2002) to determine whether there is an association between IUT and NEC. Maternal and neonatal demographics, and details concerning IUT and definite (> or =Stage II) NEC, were collected. Chi2 tests of association were performed. In our population 281/38,200 (0.73%) pregnancies were complicated by RHD. Fetal anemia necessitated IUT in 25/281 pregnancies. Definite NEC occurred in 59/11,814 (very low birth weight=1874) neonatal admissions. Except for the index case, no other neonate developed NEC following IUT. No significant association was found between IUT and NEC.
Rao
S C
SC
Department of Neonatal Paediatrics, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Australia.
Patole
S K
SK
Dickinson
J E
JE
Reid
K P
KP
Doherty
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology*; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies