1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont Medical School, Burlington, Vermont 05401
The article by Keenan, et al.1 in this issue of Pediatrics once again calls attention to the complex, frustrating problem of kernicterus associated with low serum concentrations of bilirubin in small sick premature infants. The new and important information contained in this article is the observation that despite the use of late phototherapy and exchange transfusion, kernicterus occurred in these four infants. Kernicterus has certainly occurred before in premature infants who have received exchange transfusions.2-6 But with regard to phototherapy, the results are open to two interpretations.
One view will be that phototherapy is not effective. The other will be that it has only been shown here to be ineffective when used too late to expect any effect.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. L. Merhar and D. L. Gilbert Clinical (Video) Findings and Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurotransmitters in 2 Children With Severe Chronic Bilirubin Encephalopathy, Including a Former Preterm Infant Without Marked Hyperbilirubinemia Pediatrics, November 1, 2005; 116(5): 1226 - 1230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J F Watchko and M J Maisels Jaundice in low birthweight infants: pathobiology and outcome Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2003; 88(6): F455 - 458. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Hack, D. Wilson-Costello, H. Friedman, G. H. Taylor, M. Schluchter, and A. A. Fanaroff Neurodevelopment and Predictors of Outcomes of Children With Birth Weights of Less Than 1000 g: 1992-1995 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, July 1, 2000; 154(7): 725 - 731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||