1 Department of Pediatrics, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
We would like to offer several comments about the article by Wishingrad and Elegant concerning replacement transfusions (Pediatrics, 28:331, 1961).
The authors consider a positive Coombs test sufficient indication for an exchange transfusion in an erythroblastotic infant born into a family in which previously affected siblings have required exchange transfusions. A positive Coombs test does not of itself serve as adequate indication for an exchange transfusion. There must exist the same criteria for an exchange transfusion in any affected patient, particularly when one considers the fact that this procedure is not totally benign.