title: Detection of fetal RhD sequence from peripheral blood of sensitized RhD-negative pregnant women.
abstract: A sensitive PCR-based assay was developed to amplify fetal-derived rhesus D (RhD) sequence from peripheral blood of RhD-negative pregnant women with circulating anti-D. RhD-PCR positivity was detected in 7/22 samples from women bearing RhD-positive fetuses, despite the presence of varying levels of anti-D. Evidence is presented which suggests that rising maternal anti-D levels might reduce circulating fetal cell numbers. Further development of this assay may have implications in the clinical management of RhD-sensitized pregnancies and aid the understanding of the physiology of feto-maternal cell trafficking.
authors.affiliation: Niffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noakes
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bowell
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wainscoat
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000276:immunology*; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D016373:DNA, Antisense; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin