Perinatal mortality from Rh(D) hemolytic disease in Finland, 1975-1984. 1986

J Eklund, and H R Nevanlinna

Analysis of 41 deaths from Rh(D) hemolytic disease (HDN) in Finland in the past 10 years revealed that 17 occurred in mothers immunized before anti-D IgG was available and three in mothers immunized by blood transfusion in earlier years. Nine deaths were related to loopholes in the anti-D program and could presumably have been prevented by ensuring that all eligible Rh-negative women received anti-D IgG after delivery and abortion. Six deaths were due to immunization during a first pregnancy after the 28th week and three to maternal immunization despite anti-D IgG. Immunization from these sources can only be reduced by anti-D IgG injected antenatally as well as postnatally, though the complete eradication of HDN seems to be beyond our grasp. Giving anti-D IgG to Rh-negative women after the birth of a Rh-positive infant or after an abortion has been common practice in Finland, the former since 1969 and the latter since 1971. Although anti-D prophylaxis has been very effective in reducing the incidence of Rh(D) hemolytic disease, new cases continue to occur. Since the prophylaxis fails to prevent perinatal mortality, we decided to discover how the mothers whose infants died from HDN had become immunized in the past 10 years.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007136 Immunoglobulins Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses. Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D001803 Blood Transfusion The introduction of whole blood or blood component directly into the blood stream. (Dorland, 27th ed) Blood Transfusions,Transfusion, Blood,Transfusions, Blood
D004899 Erythroblastosis, Fetal A condition characterized by the abnormal presence of ERYTHROBLASTS in the circulation of the FETUS or NEWBORNS. It is a disorder due to BLOOD GROUP INCOMPATIBILITY, such as the maternal alloimmunization by fetal antigen RH FACTORS leading to HEMOLYSIS of ERYTHROCYTES, hemolytic anemia (ANEMIA, HEMOLYTIC), general edema (HYDROPS FETALIS), and SEVERE JAUNDICE IN NEWBORN. Hemolytic Disease of Newborn,Erythroblastosis Fetalis,Erythroblastoses, Fetal,Erythroblastosis Fetali,Fetal Erythroblastoses,Fetal Erythroblastosis,Fetali, Erythroblastosis,Fetalis, Erythroblastosis,Newborn Hemolytic Disease,Newborn Hemolytic Diseases
D005260 Female Females
D005387 Finland A country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. The capital is Helsinki. Aland Islands,Ă…land Islands
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012204 Rh-Hr Blood-Group System Erythrocyte isoantigens of the Rh (Rhesus) blood group system, the most complex of all human blood groups. The major antigen Rh or D is the most common cause of erythroblastosis fetalis. Rh Factors,Rhesus Blood-Group System,Antigen D, Rh Blood Group,Blood-Group System, Rh-Hr,Blood-Group System, Rhesus,Blood-Group Systems, Rh-Hr,Blood-Group Systems, Rhesus,Factor, Rh,Factors, Rh,Rh Factor,Rh Hr Blood Group System,Rh-Hr Blood-Group Systems,Rhesus Blood Group System,Rhesus Blood-Group Systems,System, Rh-Hr Blood-Group,System, Rhesus Blood-Group,Systems, Rh-Hr Blood-Group,Systems, Rhesus Blood-Group
D018029 Rho(D) Immune Globulin Immunizing agent containing IMMUNOGLOBULIN G anti-Rho(D) used for preventing Rh immunization in Rh-negative individuals exposed to Rh-positive red blood cells. Anti-D-Immunoglobulin,Immune Globulin, Rh,Rh Immune Globulin,Gamulin Rh,MICRhoGAM,Rho(D) Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human),Rho(D) Immune Human Globulin,RhoGAM,Rhophylac,Anti D Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Rh Immune

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