title: Intravenous immune globulin reduces the need for exchange transfusions in Rhesus and AB0 incompatibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a quality control review of a single institution experience with intravenous immune globulin in the treatment of Rhesus and AB0 incompatibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravenous immune globulin as treatment for Rhesus and AB0 incompatibility was introduced in our hospital in 1998. We performed a chart review of 176 infants with Rhesus or AB0 incompatibility treated in our hospital between 1993 and 2003, divided into a historical control group (1993-1998) and a treatment group (1999-2003). The project was approved through institutional ethics procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of exchange transfusion as a therapeutic modality was significantly reduced in the cohort treated with intravenous immune globulin (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.046-0.26, p < 0.001). We found no difference between the intravenous immune globulin group and the infants receiving only exchange transfusion as far as the duration of phototherapy. Infants with Rhesus incompatibility had a higher need for top-up transfusions than those with AB0 incompatibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the evidence from previous studies suggesting that intravenous immune globulin significantly reduces the need for exchange transfusion in infants with Rhesus and AB0 incompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatrics, Rikshospitalet University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kmn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huizing
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Røislien
authors.forename: Twr
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000628:therapy*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008499:Medical Records; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010789:Phototherapy; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D001663:Bilirubin