title: Twenty-four cordocenteses in one woman.
abstract: We report on 2 consecutive pregnancies in a woman with a history of neonatal death secondary to Rhesus alloimmunization. Her first subsequent pregnancy was complicated by fetal hydrops at 20 weeks of gestation. The fetus received a total of 11 intrauterine transfusions, and was delivered at 38 weeks. In the patient's next pregnancy, the fetus developed hydrops at 18 weeks of gestation. Thirteen intrauterine transfusions were given to correct fetal anemia, and a healthy baby was delivered at 38 weeks of gestational age. Continuation of intravascular transfusion therapy may represent a reasonable alternative to selective premature delivery even in cases with highly aggressive maternal Rhesus alloimmunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy, Vienna, Austria. barbara.ulm@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulm
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ulm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deutinger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernaschek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000379:methods*; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D019233:Retreatment; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000150:complications*