title: Red cell alloimmunisation following intrauterine transfusion and the feasibility of providing extended phenotype-matched red cell units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the incidence of additional alloantibody formation following intrauterine red cell transfusion and to evaluate the feasibility of providing extended phenotype-matched red cells in future intrauterine transfusion (IUT).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IUT is performed in severe, life-threatening fetal anaemia, usually in alloimmunised pregnancies. Its complications include the formation of additional alloantibodies to other red cell antigens.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an 11-year retrospective, observational study of additional alloantibody formation in patients receiving IUT in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin. The study included evaluation of the donor population in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) with regards to the feasibility of providing extended phenotype-matched units in future IUT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following IUT, 22% of mothers formed additional red cell alloantibodies. In 67% of cases, the transfused donor red cells expressed the cognate antigen. Suitable donors are available for most combinations of Fy, Jk and Ss antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population, it is feasible to provide more extensively phenotype-matched red cells for future IUT. These can be supplied from the current donor pool with no significant extra phenotyping required. We consider their provision to be a reasonable proactive step in a known at-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Red Cell Immunohaematology Laboratory, Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crumlish
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adshead
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woolfson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McParland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Culliton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies
keywords: alloantibody; extended phenotype match; haemolytic disease; intrauterine transfusion