Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- Prior history of maternal sensitisation to RhD or fetal hydrops, invasive fetal procedures, placental trauma, multiparity, abortion (threatened, spontaneous, or induced), stillbirth, or need for neonatal transfusion in a prior pregnancy
Risk factors
- maternal RhD-negative status
- maternal sensitisation to RhD
- invasive fetal procedures
- placental trauma
- abortion
- multiparity
- previous hydrops
- external cephalic version
- molar pregnancy
- ectopic pregnancy
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- maternal serum antibody titre
- paternal blood type
- paternal zygosity
- fetal ultrasound
- Doppler velocimetry of fetal middle cerebral artery (peak systolic velocity)
- fetal blood typing (from amniocentesis or maternal circulation)
- direct assessment of fetal anaemia
- rosette test
- Kleihauer-Betke test/flow cytometry
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors VIEW ALL
Program Director
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Associate Professor
Department of OB/GYN
The Ottawa Hospital
University of Ottawa
Ottawa
Canada
Disclosures
KFKF is an author of a reference cited in this monograph. KFKF declares that she has no competing interests.
Assistant Professor
Maternal Fetal Medicine Division
The Ottawa Hospital
University of Ottawa
Ottawa
Canada
Disclosures
FM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers VIEW ALL
Honorary Professor of Medicine
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
UK
Disclosures
AC is an author of several references cited in this monograph.
Consultant Hematologist
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Yorkshire Clinic
Bingley
Bradford
UK
Disclosures
LAP declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Texas Children's Fetal Center
Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital
Houston
TX
Disclosures
KJM declares that he has no competing interests.
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