Intensive antenatal plasmapheresis in severe rhesus isoimmunisation

Abstract

Intensive antenatal plasmapheresis can significantly lower Rh-antibody levels in the blood of mothers carrying babies severely affected with rhesus haemolytic disease. Twenty-seven out of forty-four mothers were successfully delivered of babies that survived, after being treated with a combination of plasmapheresis and intrauterine transfusions. A further 52 mothers were treated by plasmapheresis along. When severe disease developed as an early stage in pregnancy the results were rather poor, but excellent results were obtained when severe disease developed relatively late in pregnancy. No serious complications were encountered in the mothers or babies.