Evaluation of the indications for early exchange transfusion in rhesus haemolytic disease during phototherapy.

The study material consisted of 251 newborn light-treated infants with rhesus haemolytic disease (RHD) caused by anti-D. 139 infants were treated with ordinary phototherapy (white single light) and 112 infants with intensive phototherapy (blue double light). An evaluation was made as to wheter the indications for early exchange transfusion which were devised for non light-treated infants with RHD were relevant, i.e. whether unnecessary early exchange transfusions are now being performed in light-treated infants. The study showed that the indications are still relevant to infants receiving ordinary phototherapy, whereas they were judged to be inappropriate for infants treated with intensive phototherapy.