Treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia with flumecinolone, a new enzyme inducing drug.

The effect of flumecinolone, a new drug with enzyme inductor properties, on non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia of term and premature newborns has been investigated. Prophylactic treatment with the drug prevented the development of severe hyperbilirubinaemia. Alone or in combination with phototherapy, flumecinolone inhibited the steep rise of serum bilirubin in premature infants. A similar effect has been shown in term babies with haematomas. The new drug is void of all side-effects of phenobarbital.