Premium
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND EXPERIENCE IN AN ACTION LINE METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RHESUS ISO‐IMMUNIZATION
Author(s) -
Whitfield C. R.,
Lappin T. R. J.,
Carson Max
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1970.tb04400.x
Subject(s) - medicine , exchange transfusion , rh isoimmunization , immunization , obstetrics , pediatrics , pregnancy , fetus , immunology , antibody , biology , genetics
Summary The further development of the previously described action line method of determining the time for intrauterine transfusion or delivery in rhesus iso‐immunization has been described. The method is easily interpreted and only occasionally requires more than two amniocenteses. It was used in 407 pregnancies with rhesus isoimmunization completed during a 30‐month period, a further 127 being managed correctly by other criteria. Correct management along these lines reduced the rhesus mortality rate (including abortions) to 11·6 per cent, and to 9·5 per cent if high risk cases transferred from other rhesus centres are excluded. Reduction in rhesus mortality was particularly striking in first affected pregnancies (3·4 per cent) and when previous babies had required exchange transfusion but had survived (9·6 per cent). Unnecessary prematurity was almost entirely eliminated in mildly affected and unaffected babies.