[Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of blood group immunization during pregnancy].
In the Netherlands last year two important policy changes were introduced to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn: antenatal administration of anti RhD immunoglobulin and screening for antibodies against irregular erythrocyte antigens in all pregnant women. As the predictive value of such antibodies for the detection of hemolytic disease of the newborn is limited, it is uncertain if this measure is really cost-effective. Because blood transfusion is the most important probable cause of the immunization, and because of the clinical severity of anti-K antibodies, it is advised to give exclusively K negative blood to girls and women under the age of 45 years. In addition there is a need for a uniform protocol to deal with women who have been exposed to immunization.
van Aken
W G
WG
Centraal Laboratorium voor de Bloedtransfusiedienst/Sanquin, Amsterdam.
Christiaens
G C
GC
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System