The Decline and Fall of Anti‐Rh(D)

Abstract

Summary. Among women immunized to the Rh(D) antigen, the titre of anti‐D measured by the indirect anti‐globulin (TAG) technique falls, on average, to half of the original value in 5–7 years after a pregnancy, but there is a wide range of individual variation. This range is specified. The fall is greater when the initial titre was high. The average titre of saline anti‐D activity falls much more rapidly, although in a minority of individuals this class of antibody persists for many years. The saline anti‐D titre of some women may rise following pregnancy.

RBC antibody persistence

“…Because of hospital specialization, patients are not always treated in the same hospital. Awareness of existing antibodies may not be reported from one hospital to another; in addition, because RBC alloantibodies can become undetectable over time, 1–6 the risk of delayed HTRs due to the transfusion of incompatible blood increases.…”

“…Pretransfusion RBC compatibility testing, including the serologic history, is performed to detect clinically significant alloantibodies that are or were present in the serum of potential transfusion recipients. The persistence of antibodies at a serologically detectable level varies among people and among antibodies 1–8 . Antibody immunoglobin type and quantity, and sensitivity of the screening method are the major factors that determine pretransfusion detection.…”