title: Rh alloimmunization: Doppler or amniotic fluid analysis in the prediction of fetal anemia?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare the results of amniocentesis and those of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity to detect anemic fetuses in Rh alloimmunized pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive observational study involving 99 consecutive Rh-negative pregnancies: 74 alloimmunized patients submitted to amniotic fluid spectrophotometry (group 1) and 25 alloimmunized cases managed with Doppler ultrasonography (group 2). Variables analyzed were the following: need for neonatal transfusion and neonatal hematocrit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neonatal hematocrit was significantly lower and the need for neonatal transfusion was significantly higher in cases managed with spectrophotometry compared to those managed with Doppler.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants managed with Doppler velocimetry had higher hematocrit and less need for neonatal transfusion, suggesting that this non-invasive method of monitoring fetal anemia may best preserve the neonate.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Department, UNIFESP-EPM, Av. Lopes de Azevedo, 888, São Paulo, SP, 05603-001, Brazil. lunardozza@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camano
authors.forename: Paulo Alexandre
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chinen
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000150:complications*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler