title: Value of maternal anti-D concentration in predicting the outcome of Rh(D) haemolytic disease.
abstract: The outcomes of 43 pregnancies complicated by the presence of Rhesus antibodies were studied in relation to the peak concentrations of anti-D reached during pregnancy. Antibody concentration was measured by an automated method calibrated against the British Anti-D Working Standard. Where the anti-D concentration remained below 5 IU/ml, the infants at worst suffered only moderate jaundice controllable with phototherapy. Above this level the incidence of requirement for exchange or top-up transfusion was high with concentrations greater than 50 IU/ml being predictive of a very severely affected fetus. It is recommended that amniocentesis in these patients be deferred until maternal anti-D levels exceed 5 IU/ml.
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012015:Reference Standards; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies; C033242:RH-antibodies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System