Successful Prevention of Experimental Rh Sensitization in Man with an Anti‐Rh Gamma₂‐Globulin Antibody Preparation: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

An anti‐Rh gamma2‐globulin antibody preparation has been developed which can be administered intramuscularly and appears to be both safe and effective in the prevention of experimental Rh sensitization. Nine unsensitized Rh‐negative male volunteers were challenged once a month for five successive months with intravenous injections of 2 ml. of Rh‐positive blood. Four of these nine volunteers were passively protected each month with intramuscular injections of 5 ml. of this antibody preparation, administered 24 hours prior to the antigenic challenge. Three months after the last injection the passively acquired Rh antibodies were no longer demonstrable (by either the saline or indirect antiglobulin technics) in any of the four protected subjects and there was no sign of active antibody production six months after the last injection, whereas four of the five controls were all strongly sensitized.

Transplacental Passage of Fetal Red Cells in Abortion; Increased Incidence After Curettage and Effect of Oxytocic Drugs

“…(1961) and Clarke et at. (1963) and in the U.S. A. Freda et al (1964) showed conclusively that Rh-disease could be prevented by passive immunization with high-titre anti-D plasma or anti-D ganmaglobulin.…”

Evaluation of the clinical utility of maternal alloantibody screening as a surrogate to antiglobulin crossmatch procedures in resource limited settings

“…Prevention of RhD HDFN became feasible in the late 1960s after pioneering research by Finn Clarks and Freda; there was a dramatic decline in Rh HDFN [19,20]. Since then other Rh and nonRh red cell alloantibodies have become relatively more important and are now responsible for the greater proportion of the HDFN cases.…”

A History of Neonatal Medicine—Past Accomplishments, Lessons Learned, and Future Challenges. Part 1—The First Century

“…Prior to the use of RhoGAM, 1 in 100 babies were affected with a high risk of intrauterine demise or neonatal hydrops. 55 Ninety-five percent of the cases are now prevented, with an accompanying dramatic decrease in the need for double volume exchange transfusions and the occurrence of kernicterus.…”