Simple non-invasive prenatal detection of Hb Bart's disease by analysis of fetal erythrocytes in maternal blood.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a simple non-invasive technique for early detection of Hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's disease.


METHODS
Maternal blood smears from 8 known Hb Bart's pregnancies and 40 at-risk pregnancies were investigated. Maternal peripheral blood smears were stained with fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies against alpha- and embryonic zeta-globin chains.


RESULTS
Fetal nonnucleated red blood cells, stained with anti-zeta but not with anti-alpha globin antibodies were found in 15 out of 16 affected pregnancies but were not detected in 23 out of 24 unaffected pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
Results showed that non-invasive immunofluorescence staining of maternal blood is a feasible approach for screening Hb Bart's disease before ultrasound manifestation in affected pregnancies.
Lau
Elizabeth T
ET
Prenatal Diagnostic and Counselling Department, Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong. lautke@ha.org.hk
Kwok
Yvonne K
YK
Luo
Hong Yuan
HY
Leung
K Y
KY
Lee
C P
CP
Lam
Y H
YH
Chui
David H K
DH
Tang
Mary H Y
MH
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005914:Globins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D005914:Globins; C030448:hemoglobin Bart's