Kernicterus and prematurity.

At one time kernicterus was most commonly associated with haemolytic disease of the newborn. With the introduction of adequate exchange transfusions this complication, whether due to Rh or to ABO incompatibility, has been virtually eliminated. In 1950 two groups of workers, Aidin, Corner and Tovey in this country and Zuelzer and Mudgett in America, independently drew attention to the fact that kernicterus was sometimes associated with prematurity only. Other workers (Gerrard, 1952; Govan and Scott, 1953) have also given details of cases and suggested possible aetiological factors. The present paper draws attention to the early signs of the disease, its mortality and the sequelae in survivors. An attempt has also been made to assess its incidence, its relationship to such factors as sex, birth weight, maturity and birth order, and ante-natal and post-natal factors. Among the post-natal factors specifically studied has been the level of the serum bilirubin in those developing kernicterus; these levels have been compared with those in normals.