Anti-D in a 'D positive' mother giving rise to severe haemolytic disease of the newborn. A dilemma in antenatal immunohaematological testing.
An Rh positive woman having the Rh(D) variant designated DVI formed a potent anti-D which caused a severe haemolytic disease in the infant. The infant received three exchange transfusions within the first 21 hours after delivery and, because of a 'late anaemia', three additional blood transfusions during the first 3 months of life. The authors point out the distinction between D variant antigens, where certain epitopes of the D antigen are lacking, and qualitatively normal D antigens with a reduced reactivity, Du. Women with D variant antigens should be subject to the same antenatal serological control as those who are Rh(D) negative, and if they form anti-D the infant should be controlled as in other cases where haemolytic disease of the newborn is suspected.
Ostgård
P
P
Fevang
F
F
Kornstad
L
L
D000328:Adult; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*
D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System