The detection of anti-D in Rho (D)-negative infants born of Rho (D)-positive mothers.
It has not been determined whether Rho (D)-negative infants born of Rho (D)-positive mothers are sensitized during gestation or during parturition. Sensitization before use precludes the efficacious use of human Rho immune globulin as a prophylactic. The purpose of the present study is to identify the time of sensitization. Cord blood was collected from the placentas of 68 Rho (D)-negative infants whose mothers were Rho (D)-positive. Sixty-three of the 68 infants had one blood sample obtained between 1 and 9 months later. The paired samples were analyzed for anti-D by standard Coombs test and by automated antibody detection techniques. With the technique of automated antibody detection, we have been unable to demonstrate antibody in cord blood of the Rho (D)-negative infants of whom at least 7 of 63 (11%) had detectable anti-D between 1 and 9 months of age. These data show that Rho (D)-negaitve infants do not have detectable antibody at birth but may develop detectable anti-D in the first months of life. This observation suggests that the sensitizing dose of Rho (D) antigen occurs at parturition rather than during gestation.
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D013997:Time Factors
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007518:Isoantibodies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System