title: Intrauterine transfusion: kinetics of absorption of donor cells in fetal lambs.
abstract: The absorption of red cells from the peritoneal cavity of fetal lambs was studied in 29 pregnant ewes at approximately 120 days' gestation. Onset of absorption was early, absorption was rapid, and virtually complete absorption was shown in 96% of the fetuses by 92 hours after intrauterine transfusion. The mean time to complete 99% absorption was 75.8 hours, about half the time supposed for human fetuses. The rate of absorption and the maximum level of donor cells in the fetal circulation are both directly related to the transfusion volume. The time required to complete absorption does not vary with the volume transfused: The more blood given at intrauterine transfusion, the faster the fetus absorbs it. This study suggests that absorption in the fetus following intrauterine transfusion is very efficient, and may be faster than previously thought.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000379:methods; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep