Obstetric outcome of Rh-negative women

ABSTRACT

Rh-negative women, delivered at Al-Jamahiriya Hospital Benghazi during the period from July 1980 to December 1981, were studied to find out the incidence and obstetric outcome. There were 2,339 Rh-negative women among 25,606 deliveries [3.13%]. 156 patients were between gravidity 10th and 13th, and 34 were either gravida 14 or over. There were more mothers with blood group '0'[39. 14%] than in the other groups. 281 women [12.01%] were positive for DU antigen. Rh-negative babies delivered constituted 36.6%, and of these 42.62% were for DU antigen. Antenatal complications were observed in 10.81% of cases. Labour was normal in 92.17% and the operative delivery rate [6.07%] was considered normal. In 26 patients, there was a history of obstetric mishap, and in only 7 iso-immunization with a rising antibody titre was observed. 67 Rh-positive babies were at risk with a positive DCT reaction, and clinical disease due to Rh-incompatibility occurred in 49 [3.37%]. In 31 babies jundice was mild and was treated with phototherapy. 18 babies were affected with severe jaundice and 14 cases, exchange transfusion was required. Two babies died as result of Hydrops foetalis. Jaundice, due to ABO incompatibility was noted in 28 cases and in 7 cases exchange transfusion was required. In all, 22 babies died a perinatal mortality of 1.058, and of these 8 [0.34] babies were lost due to Rh-incompatibility. The significance of the observations made was discussed