Abstract

Eighty-three jaundiced newborn infants were studied, 41 received phenobarbitone, and 42 served as controls. 48 hours after starting treatment the mean serum bilirubin level of the group of normal birthweight infants was significantly lower than that of controls. Exchange transfusions were required in 6 of the 32 control cases and in none of the 28 treated cases.

There were no significant differences in the mean serum bilirubin levels or in the exchange transfusion rates between treated and control low birthweight infants.