Erythroblastosis fetalis produced by anti-k.
We report an instance of transfusion-induced anti-k so severe that three intrauterine intravascular fetal transfusions were required. The pretransfusion circulating hemoglobin level in the fetus was 60 g/l and hematocrit was 0.19. This, to our knowledge, is the first example of the rare alloantibody, anti-k, producing erythroblastosis so severe that fetal transfusions were required in order to prevent hydrops fetalis from developing. Anti-k alloimmunization, which in a period of 20 years and 8 months occurred only once in 3,246 alloimmunized pregnancies in Manitoba, can cause severe fetal disease. The k-alloimmunized pregnant woman should be managed in the same manner as the D-, c-, or K-alloimmunized pregnant woman.
Bowman
J M
JM
Rh Laboratory Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Harman
F A
FA
Manning
C R
CR
Pollock
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007518:Isoantibodies; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System