Antenatal treatment of fetal alloimmune cytopenias.

The antenatal use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVG) was explored in 9 cases of alloimmune cytopenias affecting fetuses. In 7 cases of alloimmune thrombocytopenia, IVG at a dose of 1 gm/kg/week appeared to be uniformly effective in elevating the fetal platelet count and preventing a recurrence of antenatal intracranial hemorrhage (2 cases). In 2 cases of Rh disease the results were more equivocal. There did not appear to be any significant toxicity associated with its use. The mechanism of IVG effect in the successfully treated cases remains uncertain.