BACKGROUND: Immunoprophylaxis with IgG anti-D is a standard prevention of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Fetal Rhesus D (RhD) blood group genotyping from maternal plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women allows targeted prophylaxis with IgG anti-D in RhD-positive pregnancies only. We set up a reliable protocol for prenatal RHD genotyping. METHODS: 153 pregnant Caucasian RhD-negative women were tested in the 27th week (range 7-38th week) of pregnancy. 18 of them were alloimmunized to the RhD antigen. The fetal RHD genotype was determined based on an automated DNA extraction and real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Intron 4 and exons 5, 7 and 10 of the RHD gene and the SRY gene were targeted. RESULTS: The fetal RhD status and gender was 100% correctly predicted in all 153 pregnancies (55 RhD-positive males, 45 RhD-positive females; 23 RhD-negative males, 30 RhD-negative females). CONCLUSION: The accuracy and applicability of our protocol for non-invasive fetal RhD determination allows the correct management of RhD-incompatible pregnancies. Our protocol could prevent unnecessary immunoprophylaxis in 53 of 153 cases. We therefore recommend that non-invasive fetal RHD genotyping is introduced as an obligatory part of prenatal screening.
BACKGROUND: Immunoprophylaxis with IgG anti-D is a standard prevention of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Fetal Rhesus D (RhD) blood group genotyping from maternal plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women allows targeted prophylaxis with IgG anti-D in RhD-positive pregnancies only. We set up a reliable protocol for prenatal RHD genotyping. METHODS: 153 pregnant Caucasian RhD-negative women were tested in the 27th week (range 7-38th week) of pregnancy. 18 of them were alloimmunized to the RhD antigen. The fetal RHD genotype was determined based on an automated DNA extraction and real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Intron 4 and exons 5, 7 and 10 of the RHD gene and the SRY gene were targeted. RESULTS: The fetal RhD status and gender was 100% correctly predicted in all 153 pregnancies (55 RhD-positive males, 45 RhD-positive females; 23 RhD-negative males, 30 RhD-negative females). CONCLUSION: The accuracy and applicability of our protocol for non-invasive fetal RhD determination allows the correct management of RhD-incompatible pregnancies. Our protocol could prevent unnecessary immunoprophylaxis in 53 of 153 cases. We therefore recommend that non-invasive fetal RHD genotyping is introduced as an obligatory part of prenatal screening.
Authors: Sina P Müller; Iris Bartels; Werner Stein; Günther Emons; Kai Gutensohn; Michael Köhler; Tobias J Legler Journal: Transfusion Date: 2008-08-07 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Robbert J P Rijnders; Godelieve C M L Christiaens; Bernadette Bossers; Jasper J van der Smagt; C Ellen van der Schoot; Masja de Haas Journal: Obstet Gynecol Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 7.661