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. 2024 Feb 28;86(4):1901-1905.
doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001846. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Prevalence of fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility at the tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study

Olivier Nyakio  1   2   3 , Fabrice Kibukila  2 , Tarun Kumar Suvvari  4 , Priyadarshini Bhattacharjee  5 , Aymar Akilimali  6   7   3 , Denis Mukwege  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility at the tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study

Olivier Nyakio et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Background: Fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility is a medical condition that affects the pregnant woman [of blood group (A, B, AB, O) and a negative Rhesus] and the foetus (of positive Rhesus). The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and to present the clinical characteristics of fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study and 37 participants were recorded during the study period of 4 years.

Results: A total of 11 898 pregnant women admitted to the maternity and 37 of them (women with blood groups A, B, AB or O and with a negative Rhesus) participated in our study, including a frequency of 0.31%. Thirty cases of fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility were recorded in new-borns. 27 (73%) of the women are from the urban region and the age group between 21 and 25 is the most affected with 37.8%. Twenty-two (59.5%) of pregnant women have blood group O (and negative Rhesus) and primiparous women are the most affected with 64.9%. For the discovery of allo-immunization, 43.2% of women discovered it during the second pregnancy and 48.7% women received a single infusion of Anti-D serum during the first pregnancy. Twelve (40%) new-borns developed jaundice as a perinatal prognosis.

Conclusion: Fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility remains a major problem of maternal health because it is likely to lead to the formation of antibodies in women, which by crossing the placental barrier, they destroy red blood cells and thus cause serious complications.

Keywords: Female; foetal blood; hemoglobinopathies; phenotype; pregnancy; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article.

Figures

Graphic 1
Graphic 1
Annual distribution of negative Rhesus.
Graphic 2
Graphic 2
Annual distribution of fetomaternal Rhesus incompatibility.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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