title: Detection of fetal NRBCs in maternal blood of pregnant carriers of beta-thalassemia using anti-gamma and anti-epsilon monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) entering maternal circulation during pregnancy constitute a potential source of material for safe and reliable noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. The increased prevalence of beta-thalassemia mutations in countries like Greece may create a problem, making it difficult to distinguish between NRBCs of fetal or maternal origin. Use of Ab against embryonic hemoglobin epsilon may increase specificity for fetal NRBC detection. In the present study, Ab against embryonic hemoglobin epsilon was used in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in order to determine if specificity for fetal NRBC detection could be increased.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics, Athens University School of Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Greece. ariamav@hol.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavrou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolialexi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Krikos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koratzis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metaxotou
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000276:immunology*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal