Clinical application of the Kleihauer-Betke test.
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.
Dupre
A R
AR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505.
Morrison
J C
JC
Martin
J N
JN
Floyd
R C
RC
Blake
P G
PG
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
D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin