Abstract
Extract: It has not been determined whether Rhoo (D-negative infants born of Rho (D)-positive mothers are sensitized during gestation or during parturition. Sensitization before use precludes the efficacious use of human Rho immune globulin as a prophylactic. The purpose of the present study is to identify the time of sensitization. Cord blood was collected from the placentas of 68 Rho (D)-negative infants whose mothers were Rho (D)-positive. Sixty-three of the 68 infants had one blood sample obtained between 1 and 9 months later. The paired samples were analyzed for anti-D by standard Coombs test and by automated antibody detection techniques. With the technique of automated antibody detection, we have been unable to demonstrate antibody in cord blood of the Rho (D)-negative infants of whom at least 7 of 63 (11 %) had detectable anti-D between 1 and 9 months of age. These data show that Rho (D)-negative infants do not have detectable antibody at birth but may develop detectable anti-D in the first months of life. This observation suggests that the sensitizing dose of Rho (D) antigen occurs at parturition rather than during gestation
Speculation: The detection of anti-D in Rho (D)-negative infants born of Rho (D)-positive mothers confirms the neonate's ability to respond to antigen exposure. If Rho (D)exposure produces sensitization only at parturition as this study implies, then there may be an immunoprophylactic role for human Rho immune globulin in the neonate.
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Bowen, F., Renfield, M. The Detection of Anti-D in Rho (D)-negative Infants Born of Rho (D)-positive Mothers. Pediatr Res 10, 213–215 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197604000-00001
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197604000-00001