NEONATAL HEPATITIS IN SIBLINGS

Abstract

• Two infants, one male, the other female, died 6 1/2 and 45 hours after birth. Antemortem findings were chiefly hemorrhagic. The essential postmortem findings were severe inflammatory and degenerative changes in the liver. Liver biopsy and function tests in the mother showed that her liver was similarly involved. Unusual sensitivity to diethylstilbestrol and infection with a virus were considered as factors in the etiology, but the resemblance of these cases to erythroblastosis suggested the possibility that the bloods of the parents might have been incompatible. Tests failed to reveal incompatibility as to the Rh and A-B-O factors. It is suggested that the incompatibility might be of some rare or unknown type.