The significance of anti-c alloimmunization in pregnancy

Abstract

In an 8-year period, 177 of 280,000 pregnancies were complicated by maternal anti-c alloimmunization. Although there was one neonatal death associated with anti-c haemolytic disease of the newborn, only two infants were severely anaemic at birth. A total of 11 babies required exchange transfusion, but nine of these developed hyperbilirubinaemia alone. The remaining c positive infants were either unaffected or only mildly affected by erythroblastosis fetalis. A strategy for management of these pregnancies is outlined, and proposed methods of prevention and serological control are discussed.