Thirty-eight Cases of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn

Abstract

The following is a report of the clinical and laboratory findings and the therapeutic results in 38 cases of haemolytic disease of the newborn which were observed at the Rothschild-Hadassah-University Hospital during the years 1946-52. Material and MethodsThirty of the 38 cases were the result of Rh sensitization, and eight were due to incompatibility in the ABO system. Prenatal Investptions. Pregnant women attending the health centres, which combine the functions of prenatal and infant welfare clinics, were examined routinely for Rh blood groups. The Rh-negative women were tested for Rh antibodies. Cases with Rh antibodies were invited to attend for monthly control titrations during the second trimester, and twice a week during the last trimester of pregnancy.In a similar way serial antibody determinations for anti-A or anti-B were carried out during pregnancy in all cases with a previous history of isoimmunization and erythroblastotic infants due to ABO incompatibility. The blood group and Rh type of the father's red cells were also determined in all cases of suspected iso-immunization.Rh antibodies in maternal sera were examined in saline and plasma. In the second part of this study the Coombs indirect method was also used.