Abstract
A single-blind controlled trial of phenobarbitone in the treatment of non-obstructive neonatal jaundice is reported. 24 babies were given phenobarbitone by mouth for 3 days from the first appearance of jaundice. 27 babies were given placebo linctus for the same period from the appearance of jaundice. There was a small but statistically significant difference between the mean serum bilirubin levels of the two groups 24 hours after starting treatment or placebo, the mean level of the control group being the higher. There was no significant difference in the mean serum bilirubin levels for the two groups initially or at 48 and 72 hours. The maximum recorded levels of serum bilirubin did not differ significantly between the two groups. It is concluded that phenobarbitone has no place in the management of established neonatal jaundice.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- ARIAS I. M. Chronic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia without overt signs of hemolysis in adolescents and adults. J Clin Invest. 1962 Dec;41:2233–2245. doi: 10.1172/JCI104682. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ARIAS I. M., GARTNER L., FURMAN M., WOLFSON S. STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF SEVERAL DRUGS ON HEPATIC GLUCURONIDE FORMATION IN NEWBORN RATS AND HUMANS. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1963 Dec 30;111:274–280. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1963.tb36968.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Crigler J. F., Jr, Gold N. I. Effect of sodium phenobarbital on bilirubin metabolism in an infant with congenital, nonhemolytic, unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and kernicterus. J Clin Invest. 1969 Jan;48(1):42–55. doi: 10.1172/JCI105973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cunningham M. D., Mace J. W., Peters E. R. Clinical experience with phenobarbitone in icterus neonatorum. Lancet. 1969 Mar 15;1(7594):550–551. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91959-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maurer H. M., Wolff J. A., Finster M., Poppers P. J., Pantuck E., Kuntzman R., Conney A. H. Reduction in concentration of total serum-bilirubin in offspring of women treated with phenobarbitone during pregnancy. Lancet. 1968 Jul 20;2(7560):122–124. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)90415-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McMullin G. P. Phenobarbitone and neonatal jaundice. Lancet. 1968 Nov 2;2(7575):978–979. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91215-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ramboer C., Thompson R. P., Williams R. Controlled trials of phenobarbitone therapy of neonatal jaundice. Lancet. 1969 May 10;1(7602):966–968. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91862-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Robinson R. J. Effect of phenobarbitone on low-birth-weight infants. Lancet. 1968 Dec 7;2(7580):1243–1244. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91723-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walker W., Hughes M. I., Barton M. Barbiturate and hyperbilirubinaemia of prematurity. Lancet. 1969 Mar 15;1(7594):548–550. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91958-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whelton M. J., Krustev L. P., Billing B. H. Reduction in serum bilirubin by phenobarbital in adult unconjugated hyperhilirubinaemia. Is enzyme induction responsible? Am J Med. 1968 Jul;45(1):160–164. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(68)90017-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilson J. T. Phenobarbital in the perinatal period. Pediatrics. 1969 Mar;43(3):324–327. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yaffe S. J., Levy G., Matsuzawa T., Baliah T. Enhancement of glucuronide-conjugating capacity in a hyperbilirubinemic infant due to apparent enzyme induction by phenobarbital. N Engl J Med. 1966 Dec 29;275(26):1461–1466. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196612292752602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]