Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Apr 18;2007(2):CD005541.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005541.pub2.

Antenatal phenobarbital for reducing neonatal jaundice after red cell isoimmunization

J T Thomas  1 , P Muller, C Wilkinson
Affiliations

Antenatal phenobarbital for reducing neonatal jaundice after red cell isoimmunization

J T Thomas et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Neonates from isoimmunized pregnancies have increased morbidity from neonatal jaundice. The increased bilirubin from haemolysis often needs phototherapy, exchange transfusion or both after birth. Various trials in pregnant women who were not isoimmunized but had other risk factors for neonatal jaundice have shown a reduction in need for phototherapy and exchange transfusion by the use of antenatal phenobarbital. A recent retrospective case-controlled study showed reduction in the need for exchange transfusion for the neonates from isoimmunized pregnancies.

Objectives: To assess the effects of antenatal phenobarbital in red cell isoimmunized pregnancies in reducing the incidence of phototherapy and exchange transfusion for the neonate.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (June 2006).

Selection criteria: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of pregnant women established to have red cell isoimmunization in the current pregnancy during their antenatal testing and given phenobarbital alone or in combination with other drugs before birth.

Data collection and analysis: All three review authors independently assessed study eligibility and quality.

Main results: No trials met the inclusion criteria for this review.

Authors' conclusions: The use of antenatal phenobarbital to reduce neonatal jaundice in red cell isoimmunized pregnant women has not been evaluated in randomised controlled trials.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None known.

Update of

References

References to studies excluded from this review

Ramboer 1969 {published data only}
    1. Ramboer C, Thompson RPH, Williams R. Controlled trials of phenobarbitone therapy in neonatal jaundice. Lancet 1969;1(7602):966‐8. - PubMed
    1. Ramboer C, Thompson RPH, Williams R. Treatment of neonatal jaundice with phenobarbitone. British Society of Gastroenterology 1969;1:414. - PubMed
Towers 1977 {published data only}
    1. Towers SH, McMullin GP. Controlled trial of antenatal barbiturates in rhesus haemolytic disease. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1977;52(4):324‐5. - PMC - PubMed
Valaes 1970 {published data only}
    1. Valaes T, Kipouros K, Petmezaki S, Solman M, Doxiadis SA. Effectiveness and safety of prenatal phenobarbital for the prevention of neonatal jaundice. Pediatric Research 1980;14(8):947‐52. - PubMed
    1. Valaes T, Petmezaki S, Doxiadis SA. Effect on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of phenobarbital during pregnancy or after birth: practical value of the treatment in a population with high risk of unexplained severe neonatal jaundice. Birth Defects 1970;6:46‐54. - PubMed

Additional references

AAP 2002
    1. AAP, ACOG. Guidelines for perinatal care. Fifth. USA: AAP and ACOG, 2002. [ISBN1‐58110‐074‐4 AAP]
Gabbe 2002
    1. Gabbe SG, Neibyl JR, Simpson JL. Alloimunization in pregnancy. Obstetrics. Normal and problem pregnancies. Fourth. New York, USA: Churchill Livingstonw, 2002:893‐930. [ISBN 0‐443‐06572‐1]
Katzung 1998
    1. Katzung BG. Basic and clinical pharmacology. Seventh. USA: Appleton and Lange, 1998:Drug Biotransformation 50‐54. [ISBN0‐8385‐0565‐1]
Kawasaki 1982
    1. Kawasaki H, Murawaki Y, Kimura N, Hirayama C. Effects of phenobarbital on unconjugated bilirubin clearance, gamma‐glutamyltranspeptidase and urinary d‐glucaric acid in patients with Gilbert's syndrome. Hepatogastroenterology 1982;29(6):252‐5. [PM:6130037] - PubMed
Price 1986
    1. Price DE, Mehta A, Park BK, Hay A, Feely MP. The effect of low‐dose phenobarbitone on three indices of hepatic microsomal enzyme induction. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1986;22(6):744‐7. - PMC - PubMed
Rayburn 1998
    1. Rayburn W, Donn S, Piehl E, Compton A. Antenatal phenobarbital and bilirubin metabolism in the very low birth weight infant. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1988;159(6):1491‐3. [PMID: 3207127] - PubMed
Thomas 1976
    1. Thomas CR. Routine phenobarbital for prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Obstetrics & Gynecology 1976;47(3):304‐8. - PubMed
Trevett 2004
    1. Trevett T, Dorman K, Lamvu G, Moise K. Does antenatal maternal administration of phenobarbital prevent exchange transfusion in neonates with alloimmune hemolytic disease?. Society of Maternal‐Fetal Medicine 24th Annual Clinical Meeting; 2004 February 2‐7; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. 2004:565.
Trevett 2005
    1. Trevett TN Jr, Dorman K, Lamvu G, Moise KJ Jr. Antenatal maternal administration of phenobarbital for the prevention of exchange transfusion in neonates with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005;192(2):478‐82. - PubMed
Wennberg 1978
    1. Wennberg RP, Depp R, Heinrichs WL. Indications for early exchange transfusion in patients with erythroblastosis fetalis. Journal of Pediatrics 1978;92(5):789‐92. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances