title: Rh Immunoprophylaxis for Women With a Serologic Weak D Phenotype.
abstract: It is standard practice for pregnant RhD-negative women who have not already formed anti-D to receive antepartum Rh immunoprophylaxis and, if they deliver an RhD-positive neonate, to receive postpartum Rh immunoprophylaxis. An estimated 0.6% to 1.0% of white women have red blood cells that express a serologic weak D phenotype. Of these women, approximately 80% will have a weak D type 1, 2, or 3 that could be managed safely as RhD-positive. Surveys of laboratory practice reveal a lack of standards for interpreting the RhD type for women with a serologic weak D and for determining their need for Rh immunoprophylaxis. RhD genotyping is recommended to determine the molecular basis of serologic weak D phenotypes in pregnant women as a basis for determining their candidacy for Rh immunoprophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC mrigender.s.virk@gunet.georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Mrigender
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: S Gerald
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C061961:RHO(D) antibody; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin; C026410:Rho(D) antigen
keywords: Rh immunoprophylaxis; RhD; fetomaternal hemorrhage; hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn; transfusion medicine; weak D