title: Perinatal mortality in Rh alloimmunized patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate and compare the perinatal mortality of Rh-negative pregnancies managed at São Paulo Federal University during a 9-year period, using either amniocentesis or middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive observational study involving 291 consecutive Rh-negative pregnancies managed between January 1995 and January 2004. The perinatal mortality of 99 alloimmunized patients was compared with 192 Rh-negative unimmunized patients (control group). The perinatal mortality of patients managed with amniocenteses was compared to those managed with Doppler studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 74 patients managed with amniocenteses and 25 managed with Doppler studies. Perinatal mortality was significantly higher in the 99 Rh-negative isoimmunized patients than in the 192 unimmunized patients (12.1% versus 1%, p=0.0001) and did not differ according to the management protocol used (amniocentesis 13.5% versus cerebral Doppler 8.0%, p=0.725). Mean gestational age and mean weight at birth in pregnancies managed with amniocenteses (35.7 weeks and 2586 g) did not differ significantly from those managed with Doppler (36.3 weeks and 2647 g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perinatal mortality in Rh-negative alloimmunized patients remains high and does not differ whether pregnancies are managed through amniocentesis or cerebral Doppler evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Obstetrics Department, São Paulo Federal University-Paulista Medical School, UNIFESP-EPM, Av. Lopes de Azevedo, 888, CEP 05603-001, São Paulo, Brazil. lunardozza@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camano
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
authors.forename: Paulo Alexandre
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chinen
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cordioli
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araújo Junior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System