1 Chief, Pediatrics, U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Norfolk 8, Virginia
On what basis do Drs. Wishingrad, Cornblath, Takakuwa, Rozenfeld, Elegant, Kaufman, Lassers, and Klein (Studies of Non-Hemolytic Hyperbilirubinemia in Premature Infants, Pediatrics, 36:162, 1965) recommend exchange transfusion for non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia of the premature at a serum bilirubin level equal to or greater than 24 mg/100 ml when no significant difference is apparent in mortality and neurological sequelae in the study groups at greater than 24 mg/100 ml serum indirect bilirubin? The only patient who developed kernicterus in the study already demonstrated symptoms and signs at 10.8 mg/100 ml indirect serum bilirubin which tends to exclude him from the study group called "greater than 24 mg/100 ml."