Prediction of the rate of decline in fetal hemoglobin levels between first and second transfusions in red cell alloimmune disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine variables that predict the rate of decline in fetal hemoglobin levels in alloimmune disease. METHOD: Retrospective review of singleton pregnancies that underwent first and second intrauterine transfusions for treatment of fetal anemia because of maternal Rh alloimmunization in a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Forty-one first intrauterine transfusions were performed at 26.1 weeks (standard deviation, SD, 4.6), mean volume of blood transfused was 44.4 mL (SD 23.5) and estimated feto-placental volume expansion was 51.3% (SD 14.5%). Between first and second transfusion, hemoglobin levels reduced on average 0.40 g/dl/day (SD 0.25). Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that this rate significantly correlated with hemoglobin levels after the first transfusion, the interval between both procedures, and middle cerebral artery systolic velocity before the second transfusion. CONCLUSION: The rate of decline in fetal hemoglobin levels between first and second transfusions in alloimmune disease can be predicted by a combination of hemoglobin levels after the first transfusion, interval between both procedures, and middle cerebral artery systolic velocity before the second transfusion.

[Frequencies of blood groups, ABO and Rh D incompatibility in post-delivery women and their liveborn]. / Freqüências dos grupos sangüíneos e incompatibilidades ABO e RhD em puérperas e seus recém-nascidos.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the frequency of different blood phenotypes and to predict the risk of Rh D alloimmunization and maternal-fetal incompatibility in a Brazilian population living in the West zone of the city of São Paulo-Brazil. METHODS: This descriptive study evaluated 2,372 post-delivery women and their liveborn during one year. Blood types were analyzed by means of tube agglutination tests. RESULTS: The blood type frequencies were: 50.67 O, 32.17 A, 13.45 B, 3.75 AB, 90.34 Rh D(+) and 9.66 Rh D(-). ABO maternal-fetal incompatibility was detected in 18.4% and Rh D incompatibility in 7%. CONCLUSION: The fraction of Rh D(-) population at high risk for Rh D alloimmunization was 82%, emphasizing the importance of Rh D alloimmunization profilaxis.

Freqüências dos grupos sangüíneos e incompatibilidades ABO e RhD em puérperas e seus recém-nascidos / Frequencies of blood groups, ABO and Rh D incompatibility in post-delivery women and their liveborn

OBJETIVO: Determinar as freqüências fenotípicas e predizer o risco de incompatibilidade e aloimunização materna RhD na população da Zona Oeste de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo no qual avaliamos 2372 puérperas e seus recém-nascidos vivos, no período de um ano, tipificadas para os sistemas ABO e RhD por meio de teste de aglutinação em tubo. RESULTADOS: O estudo mostrou os seguintes percentuais: grupo sangüíneo O, 50,67 por cento; A, 32,17 por cento; B, 13,45 por cento; AB, 3,71 por cento; RhD(+), 90,34 por cento e RhD(-), 9,66 por cento. A ocorrência de incompatibilidade materno-fetal foi de 18,4 por cento para o sistema ABO e de 7 por cento para o RhD. CONCLUSÃO: O contingente da população Rh negativa com alto risco para aloimunização RhD foi estimado em 82 por cento, denotando a importância da profilaxia da aloimunização RhD.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the frequency of different blood phenotypes and to predict the risk of Rh D alloimmunization and maternal-fetal incompatibility in a Brazilian population living in the West zone of the city of São Paulo - Brazil. METHODS: This descriptive study evaluated 2,372 post-delivery women and their liveborn during one year. Blood types were analyzed by means of tube agglutination tests. RESULTS: The blood type frequencies were: 50.67 O, 32.17 A, 13.45 B, 3.75 AB, 90.34 Rh D(+) and 9.66 Rh D(-). ABO maternal-fetal incompatibility was detected in 18.4 percent and Rh D incompatibility in 7 percent. CONCLUSION: The fraction of Rh D(-) population at high risk for Rh D alloimmunization was 82 percent, emphasizing the importance of Rh D alloimmunization profilaxis.

[HTLV1 infection and pregnancy]. / Infection par le rétrovirus HTLV-1 et grossesse.

OBJECTIVE: We report an epidemiological study with an analysis of the risk factors of the HTLV-1 seroprevalence in pregnant women and their children in the town of St Laurent du Maroni, French Guyana. MATERIAL AND METHOD: HTLV-1 seroprevalence and risk associated factors were first studied in all the pregnant women having delivered at St. Laurent between July 1991 and June 1993. Then, a retrospective analysis was performed in the children, aged between 18 months and 12 years old, born from HTLV-1 infected mothers, focusing especially on the duration of breast feeding and the level of HTLV-1 anti body titers and proviral load. RESULTS: The global HTLV-1 seroprevalence was 4.4% (75/1727) but it was more prevalent among ethnic groups of African origin such as the Noir Marron population (5.5%) and Haitians (6.3%). In the Noir-Marron population, which represents 70% of the studied population, HTLV-1 seropositivity was associated with a maternal age of>35 years, prior miscarriage, prior cesarean section, parity>4, gravidity>6 and negative rhesus factor. After logistic regression, HTLV-1 seropositivity remained associated with gravidity>6 and negative rhesus factor. Out of the 216 children born from 81 HTLV-1 infected mothers, only 21 were found to be HTLV-1 seropositive, giving a crude HTLV-1 transmission rate of 9.7% while among the 180 breast-fed children 10.6% were HTLV-1 seropositive. HTLV-1 seropositivity in children was associated with elevated maternal anti HTLV-1 antibody titer, high maternal HTLV-1 proviral load and child's gender, girls being more frequently HTLV-1 infected than boys. CONCLUSION: HTLV-1 infection, which can be responsible for severe pathologies in adults (adult T cell leukemia and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1 associated myelopathy) should be screened during pregnancy in women originating from high HTLV-1 endemic areas, as for France, mainly the French West Indies, French Guyana and Intertropical Africa. In case of HTLV-1 seropositivity, mothers should be informed on the risk of transmission and promotion of bottle feeding of their children should be strongly proposed.

Mothers at risk of alloimmunization to the Rh (D) antigen and availability of gamma-globulin at the Mexican Institute of Social Security.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn develops mainly when an Rh negative (D-) mother becomes sensitized and produces anti-Rh positive (anti-D) antibodies capable of hemolysing D+ fetal erythrocytes. Maternal alloimmunization can be prevented by the administration of anti-D gamma-globulin immediately after the birth of each Rh positive child. In order to identify the frequency of prevention of alloimmunization at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), the amount of mothers at risk of sensitization from 1985 to 1995 was estimated from Rh and ABO blood group frequencies and with the number of deliveries and abortions at the Medical Institutions. Also, information in regard to the dose of gamma-globulin units purchased by the Institute of Social Security from 1985 to 1993 was obtained. The number of mothers at risk steadily increased from 16,616 in 1985 to 21,071 in 1995, amounting to a total of 203,203 in the 10-year period, while only 120,800 gamma-globulin units were purchased in that same period. The findings in this study suggest the need to define reasonable policies for the acquisition of gamma-globulin lots to prevent alloisoimmunization of mothers at risk.

Riesgo y prevalencia de isoinmunización en madres Rh negativas / Risks and prevalence of isoimmunization in rh negative mothers

Se estudiaron 2518 madres que se desembarazaron en el Servicio de Obstetricia del Hospital Dr. Luis E. Aybar en el período comprendido entre el 1 de Junio al 31 de Diciembre 1992, de las cuales 119 resultaron ser Rh neg, para una prevalencia de 4.7//. De estas 119 madres, 3 resultaron con el Test de Coombs indirecto positivo, para una prevalencia de isomunización de 2.5//. De estas 119 madres, 49 que tuvieron hijos Rh pos, pudieron ser seguidas por 6 meses post parto y 4 de ellas al término de este período resultaron con el test de Coombs indirecto positivo, para una prevalencia de 8.1//de isoinmunización y un riesgo de p=0.08