title: Fetomaternal hemorrhage in threatened abortion.
abstract: In this study, we compared the incidence of fetomaternal hemorrhage between patients with threatened abortion and a control population of similar gestational age. The study population comprised pregnant patients at less than 20 weeks' gestation who presented to our emergency room with a history of vaginal bleeding without cervical dilatation or passage of tissue. The control population consisted of women presenting for elective pregnancy termination; they were excluded from the study if they gave a history of any antepartum bleeding. The amount of fetomaternal hemorrhage was evaluated using the Kleihauer-Betke acid elution assay. A positive result in our laboratory, as determined by a nonpregnant control group, was a value of 0.07% or more fetal cells. Using this criterion, 11% of the study population had a positive Kleihauer-Betke test, compared with 4% in the pregnant control group. Rho(D) immunoglobulin may be indicated in Rho(D)-negative patients who present with threatened abortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wishard Memorial Hospital, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Von Stein
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Munsick
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stiver
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryder
mesh_terms: D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy