Minimal risk of Rh sensitization in induced abortions.

PIP: Evidence from almost 700 consecutive first trimester abortions and 59 random second trimester abortions leads the author to question the need for administering full doses of anti-D globulin to legal abortion patients of Rho-negative blood type routinely. Of 699 first trimester cases, only 17 tested positive for fetal cells. All 17 had less than 2 ml of bleeding, and the remaining cases had no transplacental bleeding; these cases were aborted by curettage. A higher percentage (10%) aborted by saline tested positive, but as in the vacuum curettage group, all bled less than 2 ml. A 20-unit dose, vs. the standard 300-unit dose, is recommended.^ieng