Yellow brains and blue light

Fetal dropsy and neonatal jaundice were well known in the 17th century, but considered to be different diseases. Basal brain ganglia stained yellow were observed by Antoine Dugès in 1821, who also suggested that this finding may be associated with seizures. From observing kernicterus to understanding haemolytic disease of the newborn, 140 years passed, and the entire field of immunology had to develop. Only 25 years passed from understanding isoimmunization to the availability of effective prevention. With exchange transfusions, an effective but risky treatment for haemolytic disease and severe jaundice evolved in the 1940s. With some hesitation in the US, phototherapy followed in the 1950s. Rhesus haemolytic disease was practically eradicated during the 1960s by anti-D immunoglobulin. Kernicterus returned in the 1990s because of lessened awareness, and difficulty in monitoring bilirubin values after early discharge from maternity wards.