Neurosonographic Findings in Infants with Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of Newborn: A Prospective Observational Study.

We estimated the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or periventricular leukomalacia/echogenicity (PVL/E) in Rhesus isoimmunized infants. Seventy-one infants underwent cranial ultrasound within the first 3 days of life or discharge, whichever was earlier. Of these, 27 (38%) infants had IVH/ PVL/E. On multivariate analysis, lower gestational age (P = 0.035), small for gestational age [aOR (95% CI) 10.6 (1.9, 58.9)], and sepsis [aOR (95% CI) 4.5 (1.1, 18.4)] were independently associated with IVH/PVL.

Iron Overload and Anemia in Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of Newborn: A Prospective Observational Study.

This study assessed the prevalence of iron overload in infants born to Rh isoimmunized mothers. Infants born to Rh isoimmunized mothers with Indirect Coomb's Test (ICT) titers ≥1:16 were prospectively enrolled and followed until 3 mo. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were estimated at birth and 3 mo of age. The outcomes were the incidence of iron overload (at birth and 3 mo), anemia, and the need for transfusions in the first 3 mo. Seventy-four infants were enrolled, nearly half receiving intrauterine transfusion (IUT). Sixty (82.2%) had hyperferritinemia at birth. The median (1st, 3rd quartile) ferritin levels were 456 (321, 631) µg/L. Infants who received IUTs had significantly higher serum ferritin levels at birth. Fifty-one (76.1%) infants had hyperferritinemia at 3 mo. Over three months of follow-up, 53 (71.6%) infants had anemia, of which 33 (48.5%) required packed red blood cells (PRBC) transfusion. These findings suggest that iron overload is common in these infants in the first 3 mo.