International Journal of Infertility & Fetal Medicine

Register      Login

VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2022 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Management of Rh-negative Alloimmunized Pregnancy Optimizing Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity: A Single-center Study

Devendra Arora, Madhusudan Dey, Sanjay Singh, Abhijeet Kumar, Vinod G Nair

Keywords : Exchange transfusion, Fetal anemia, Indirect Coombs test, Intrauterine transfusion, Perinatal mortality, Rhesus isoimmunization

Citation Information : Arora D, Dey M, Singh S, Kumar A, Nair VG. Management of Rh-negative Alloimmunized Pregnancy Optimizing Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity: A Single-center Study. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2022; 13 (3):111-115.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1291

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 29-12-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to report pregnancy and fetal outcomes of Rhesus (Rh)-negative pregnancy at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and methods: Prospective observational study was carried out on all Rh-negative women over 3 years period. On the basis of the evolution of indirect Coombs test (ICT), titer and middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) value, women were categorized into five groups. In the group with ICT >1:32 and MCA-PSV >1.5, multiple of median (MOM) or any features of hydrops underwent intrauterine transfusion (IUT). Pregnancy outcomes, neonatal outcomes, and procedure-related adverse events were analyzed. Results: A total of 496 women were recruited, out of which 411 were non-alloimmunized, and 85 were alloimmunized. Out of 85 alloimmunized pregnancies, 47 fetuses underwent 148 IUT. The overall perinatal mortality was 1/47, while adverse procedure-related complication was nil in fetuses who underwent IUT. In the IUT group without hydropic fetuses, there was no mortality, but 100% of newborns underwent phototherapy, and 30% underwent exchange transfusion, which was better than the previous studies. In the IUT group with hydropic fetuses, one fetus had mortality out of seven has a cumulative perinatal loss rate of 14%. The procedure-related complication rate was 4.7%. Conclusion: In the absence of fetal hydrops, IUT has a good prognosis with 100% fetus survival in our center. Advancement in neonatal management [concomitant use of phototherapy and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)] of IUT-received fetuses has significantly reduced morbidity related to hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Early detection of pregnancy at risk of fetal anemia using ICT titer and MCA-PSV trend and timely management of fetus at risk of anemia using IUT at fetal medicine center leads to a favorable outcome.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Practice parameter: management of hyperbilirubinemia in the healthy term newborn. American Academy of Pediatrics. Provisional Committee for Quality Improvement and Subcommittee on Hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatrics 1994;94(4 Pt 1):558–565. DOI: 10.1542/peds.94.4.558
  2. Zipursky A, Paul VK. The global burden of Rh disease. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2011;96(2):F84–F85. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2009.181172
  3. de Haas M, Finning K, Massey E, et al. Anti-D prophylaxis: past, present and future. Transfus Med 2014;24(1):1–7. DOI: 10.1111/tme.12099
  4. Bowman J. Thirty-five years of Rh prophylaxis. Transfusion 2003;43(12):1661–1661. DOI: 10.1111/j.0041-1132.2003.00632.x
  5. R Mari G, Deter RL, Carpenter RL, et al. Noninvasive diagnosis by Doppler ultrasonography of fetal anemia due to maternal red-cell alloimmunization. Collaborative group for Doppler assessment of the blood velocity in anemic fetuses. N Engl J Med 2000;342(1):9–14. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200001063420102
  6. Oepkes D, Seaward PG, Vandenbussche FPHA, et al. Doppler ultrasonography versus amniocentesis to predict fetal anemia. N Engl J Med 2006;355(2):156–164. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa052855
  7. Nicolaides KH, Soothill PW, Clewell WH, et al. Fetal haemoglobin measurement in the assessment of red cell isoimmunisation. Lancet 1988;1(8594):1073–1075. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91896-x
  8. Somerset DA, Moore A, Whittle MJ, et al. An audit of outcome in intravascular transfusions using the intrahepatic portion of the fetal umbilical vein compared to cordocentesis. Fetal Diagn Ther 2006;21(3):272–276. DOI: 10.1159/000091355
  9. Tiblad E, Kublickas M, Ajne G, et al. Procedure-related complications and perinatal outcome after intrauterine transfusions in red cell alloimmunization in Stockholm. Fetal Diagn Ther 2011;30(4):266–273. DOI: 10.1159/000328683
  10. Pasman SA, Claes L, Lewi L, et al. Intrauterine transfusion for fetal anemia due to red blood cell alloimmunization: 14 years experience in Leuven. Facts Views Vis Obgyn 2015;7(2):129–136. PMID: 26175890; PMCID: PMC4498170.
  11. Deka D, Dadhwal V, Sharma AK, et al. Perinatal survival and procedure-related complications after intrauterine transfusion for red cell alloimmunization. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2016;293(5):967–973. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-015-3915-7
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.