Anti-U and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
The red cell alloantibody, anti-U, is uncommon but is a recognised cause of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. We describe six pregnancies complicated by the presence of maternal anti-U, and review nine other well-documented cases. In these 15 cases severe haemolytic disease occurred only with titres of > or = 1/512, and titres as high as 1/4000 were not necessarily associated with significant haemolysis. We recommend that an anti-U titre of > or = 1/128 or more at > or = 17 weeks of gestation is an indication for assessment of haemolysis in the fetus. Amniocentesis is the preferred initial investigation.
Smith
G
G
Haematology Department, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Knott
P
P
Rissik
J
J
de la Fuente
J
J
Win
N
N
D000649:Amniocentesis; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007518:Isoantibodies