Abstract
The investigation of the free anti-D antibodies in serum was perfotmed in 65 mature Commbs-positive newborn. We found that the gravity of the disease depended in the first line on the presence of absence of free anti-D antibodies in the serum of the infants. No free anti-D antibodies were found in the serum of 27 Coombs-positive infants. In these cases the course of the disease was milder. In 14 infants the serum bilirubin did not rise to 20 mg/100 ml, so the exchange transfusion was not indicated. In 13 cases. a more marked rise of the bilirubin level called for exchange transfusion. Under such conditions if there are no circulating free anti-D antibidies, Rh-positive blood can also be used for the exchange transfusion. After the exchange transfuaion mild bilirubin rebound occurred, no more blood exchange was necessary. Free anti-G antibody was found in the serum of 38 infants. The course of the disease was serious, exchange transfusion was indicated in every case. Nineteen infants were treated, in the usual way, Rh-negative blood. In 9 cases the exchange transfusion had to be repeated; 19 babies were treated with “combined exchange transfusion”, a method first appplied by us. (The transfusion was begun with Rh-positive blood and completed by Rh-negative blood.) In this way free anti-D antibody could be removed efficiently, the exchange had to be repeated only in 4 case.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pataki, L. 57. Significance of the free anti-D antibody in the course of the hemolytic disease of the newborn due to Rh-isoimmunization. Pediatr Res 5, 95 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197102000-00062
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197102000-00062