title: Phenobarbitone in Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic oral phenobarbitone (PB) in neonates with Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-blind randomized trial conducted in a tertiary care unit, we randomly allocated neonates with Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn born at or after 32 weeks' gestation to PB (10 mg/kg/day on day 1 followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-5) (n = 23) or oral glucose (n = 21). The primary outcome was the duration of phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline variables were comparable. There was no difference in the median duration of phototherapy [54 (range: 0-180) vs. 35 h (0-127); p = 0.39] and in the incidences of failure of phototherapy or significant rebounds of serum bilirubin. However, the proportion of infants with cholestasis was significantly lower in the PB group (0 vs. 19%; p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PB does not reduce duration of phototherapy or its episodes. Its potential to reduce cholestasis needs validation in larger studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Kannan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkatnarayan
authors.forename: Mari Jeeva
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Deorari
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin; D010634:Phenobarbital
keywords: Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn (Rh-HDN); phenobarbitone; phototherapy