On Rh Immunization and Its Prevention: Observations and Thoughts

Blood Group Incompatibility between Mother and Foetus

“…Here the failure rate is extremely low and this is probably related to the fact that many women are excluded from treatment who would probably be given anti-D antibody in other centres. This is because Canadian workers, using particularly sensitive enzyme techniques, find a much higher incidence of primary immunization during pregnancy (about 2% as against about 0.8% elsewhere; Chown, 1968). To combat this, Canada was early on the scene with ante-natal treatment (Zipursky, Pollack, Chown & Israels, 1965) and a large-scale trial has now been instituted in which anti-D antibody is given in the last trimester of pregnancy as well as after delivery.…”

Rh‐Prophylaxis with Immunoglobulin Anti‐D Administered during Pregnancy and after Delivery

“…Although it wasoncegenerally accepted that Rh-immunization during pregnancy was rare (Nevanlinna & Vaino, 1962), it had been reported that the frequency of this phenomenon was not negligible (Hartmann & Brendemoen, 1953). Later studies have shown that the frequency of Rh-immunization during pregnancy is of the order of 1-3 per cent (Bishop & Krieger, 1970;Bowman, 1971;Chown, 1968;Dambrosio, 1971; Dudok de Witt et al, 1968). A clinical investigation using 250 pg anti-D for prophylaxis of Rh-immunization was started in 1968 at the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Vaxjo in order to find answers to the following questions: ( a ) How many Rh-negative women delivered of Rh-positive babies have antibodies at parturition?…”