A Family with -D- Phenotype Associated with Fatal Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

-D- is a very rare haplotype which determines D without C, c, E or e and exalted D activity. The extremely rare homozygote propositi(-D-/-D-) are usually ascertained through their immune antibodies which react with red cells of all common Rh phenotypes. Authors experienced a woman with -D- phenotype for the first time in Korea. She had a history of abortion and intrauterine fetal death. She delivered a baby with severe hemolytic disease of the newborn at the third pregnancy. In spite of intensive medical interventions, the baby died of hydrops fetalis. An immune antibody to high incidence Rh antigen, namely anti-Hro, was demonstrated in the woman's serum. Family study revealed that all of the family had -D- gene complex and one of her sisters also was -D-homozygote. The sister also had anti-Hro in the serum.