A prospective study of routine antenatal enzyme antibody screening demonstrates lack of clinical value in predicting haemolytic disease of the newborn.
A prospective study of 7065 consecutive new pregnancies identified 230 with a positive screen, of which 27% (62/230) were 'enzyme-only' antibodies. 32 of these (52%) were potentially clinically important and were all of Rh specificity: 22 anti-E, seven anti-Cw, two anti-D and one anti-c. However, only three of these enzyme-only antibodies (one anti-D, one anti-c and one anti-E) became reactive by the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) during the course of pregnancy, and all were detected in the routine 34-36-week maternal sample. No babies were affected, and we reaffirm that routine antibody screening by enzyme techniques is unnecessary.
Clark
D
D
Academic Transfusion Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen.
Greiss
M A
MA
Urbaniak
S J
SJ
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004798:Enzymes / Q000276:immunology; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004798:Enzymes