A follow-up study of infants who received intra-uterine transfusions because of severe rhesus haemolytic disease.

The developmental characteristics of infants surviving the neonatal period after the performance of prenatal intra-uterine transfusions because of severe rhesus haemolytic disease were studied in 17 of 19 children, using the revised Denver Developmental Screening Test and a physical-neurological examination. The children ranged in age from 5 to 91 months. Two cases are reported as having retared psychomotor development. No cases of cerebral palsy were found. Among the minor abnormalities were squints, abdominal hernia and enamel defects. The results justify the use of intra-uterine transfusions in appropriately selected fetuses when combined with treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia and respiratory distress during the neonatal period.