title: Clinical application of the Kleihauer-Betke test.
abstract: A prospective study was performed to investigate the benefit of serial quantitation of fetomaternal hemorrhage with the Kleihauer-Betke test for the prediction of neonatal/maternal outcome in pregnancies at risk for such bleeding. Of 65 patients, 14 (22%) had a positive Kleihauer test. Six of these women (43%) had evidence of placental abruption. Neonatal anemia (hematocrit < 48%) was present in only 2 of the 14 patients with a positive Kleihauer test (14%). Morbidity in the newborn correlated with gestational age at delivery, not with neonatal hematocrit. Maternal morbidity was not associated with a positive test. We conclude that Kleihauer-Betke testing is of limited value in patients at risk for fetomaternal hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dupre
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Blake
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin