title: Implementation of the rhesus prevention programme: a prospective study.
abstract: All rhesus-negative women who completed a pregnancy between January and August 1992 in two Scottish regions were studied to assess whether the administration of the rhesus prevention programme was complete: 671 rhesus positive (or rhesus type unknown) pregnancies were completed in 1120 Rh D negative women. For eight pregnancies no record of Rh D administration at birth was available. For recorded antenatal events that should have resulted in its administration anti-D was given in 195/280 (69.6%). Kleihauer testing was carried out in 9 of 98 instances of antepartum haemorrhage occurring after 20 weeks gestation. No cases of antenatal immunisation were identified. The study identified a need to increase awareness of the necessity for anti-D administration after potentially immunising events during pregnancy, and for increasing compliance with administration of postnatal anti-D in one of the study regions. Re-evaluation is also required of the recommendation that Kleihauer testing should be done when antenatal anti-D is given following an obstetric event after 20 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000628:therapy*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin