title: [Changes in feto-maternal incompatibility and the indications for exchange transfusion].
abstract: Since anti-Rho (D) was reputed as the major cause of significant haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDNB), the introduction of Rh-immunoglobulin (Rh-Ig) in the late 1960's made it possible to prevent the risk of sensitisation to Rho (D) in 85-90% of the cases. The use of Rh-Ig has no effect on ABO or non-ABO, non-D incompatibilities. These facts have induced a change in the frequency of HDNB. On the other hand, the use of Rh-Ig has provided evidence that treatment with exchange transfusion has strikingly decreased in HDNB. In order to assess the incidence of potential and actual ABO, Rho (D) and non-ABO, non-D foeto-maternal incompatibility, cord-blood samples from 12,830 newborns were studied. Although potential ABO incompatibility with their mothers was found in 2,470 babies (19.1%), only 183 of them (7.4%) developed actual sensitization. Such figure represents only 1.4% of the ABO incompatibility, as a whole, in all the newborns. Regarding Rho (D), foeto-maternal incompatibility was present in 1,168 babies (9.1%), of whom 39 (3.3%), i.e., 0.3% of all the newborns, developed actual sensitization. Assuming that before the introduction of Rh-Ig 17% of the pregnant women at risk developed anti-D, we had prevented 80.3% immunization. Most of the 39 sensitized women presented circumstances to explain this fact. Only 7 cases of non-ABO, non-D immunization have been found, which represent 0.05% of all the newborns studied. The prognosis of the different forms of foeto-maternal incompatibility is in our hands similar to that published elsewhere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serrano
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin
vernacular_title: Cambios en las incompatibilidades feto-maternas y en las indicaciones de la exanguinotransfusión.