In this issue of Indian Pediatrics, Shahian and Moslehi(1) report that albumin given prior to exchange transfusion in jaundiced but healthy term newborns is associated with significantly lower post-procedure total serum unconjugated bilirubin levels (TSB) and a reduced need for further treatment. Unfortunately, the evidence presented does not support routine administration of albumin prior to e...

A patient with homozygous sickle cell disease showed a reduced incidence of painful crises as a result of regular exchange transfusion, but on three occasions when transfusion treatment was interrupted, a painful crisis occurred. Onset of painful crisis was associated with raised packed cell volume (PCV) or percentage of haemoglobin S (HbS%), or both. Measurement of whole blood viscosity using ...

Background: Mostly seen toxicities following vancomycin are ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. We here report a very low birth weight preterm neonate who developed severe episodes of apnea after accidental iatrogenic vancomycin overdose, responsive to treatment with double volume exchange transfusion. Case report: A preterm neonate weighing 1380 grams received two doses of 10-fold of the normal do...

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the pharmacodynamic properties of polymerized porcine hemoglobin (pPolyHb) in an exchange transfusion model. Each of two groups of rats received a volume of pPolyHb or hetastarch that equalled 120-140% of estimated total blood volume (70 ml/kg) exchange transfusion. The results showed pPolyHb retained hemodynamic stability and exhibited superior...

In a patient with hyperargininemia, enzyme replacement therapy such as whole blood exchange transfusion or erythrocyte transfusion was performed, and its effect was confirmed in vitro as well as in vivo. The patient has been treated with the restriction of protein intake, oral administration of an essential amino acid mixture, and sodium benzoate or phenylacetic acid. With these treatments, his...

Before 1941, erythroblastosis foetalis was treated at Birmingham Maternity Hospital by repeated intramuscular injections of fresh blood (Braid, 1939). During the next decade infants with Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn were given repeated intravenous transfusions of Rh negative blood. The exchange transfusion was not introduced until 1950. The first three years' experience (1950-53) with t...