Rhesus Haemolytic Disease Is Entirely Preventable – but Many Babies Still Die (Or Suffer Disabilities) Because of It! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!

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Rhesus Haemolytic Disease is entirely preventable – BUT many babies still die (or suffer disabilities) because of it! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! FACT: Rhesus Haemolytic Disease is a condition caused by the incompatibility between the blood of the mother and that of her fetus. If the mother is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive, when the baby is born some of the fetus’ Rh-positive red blood cells may enter the mother’s blood stream. When this happens they sensitise the Rh(D)- negative mother and in subsequent Rh(D)- positive pregnancies, this may evoke a secondary immunological response with a rapid and important production of antibodies against the D antigen. Rh incompatibility usually does not cause problems during the first pregnancy, since the baby is born before antibodies develop. The condition is, therefore, more likely to cause problems in the second and subsequent pregnancies. RISK: When it occurs there is a substantial risk to the fetus of still birth or disabilities, including THE CURRENT BURDEN OF RH DISEASE TODAY kerniterus (which causes deafness or cerebral palsy), fetal hydrops, fetal anemia and jaundice. Current burden of disease: 50 years ago the solution was found –and yet today • 50,000 stillbirths • 114,000 neonatal deaths it is still common because approximatelyhalf of all • 40,000 kernicterus and at-risk women around the world still do not receive cerebral palsy • 60,000 kernicterus and basic protective therapy often because the required hearing loss infusion is not available or simply because the need to provide this essential protection has been forgotten! PREVENTION: Prevention of this condition can be reliably provided by providing an intramuscular injection of anti-D immunoglobulin immediately after delivery – and also as a prophylactic during 28 – 32 week period of pregnancy. This prophylactic action should also be provided after abortion, ectopic pregnancy, amniocentesis, external version, abdominal trauma or substantial bleeding. For further more detailed practical guidance and information visit: www.glowm.com/RH-Disease.

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The Fetal Center SPRING 2019 JOURNAL in This Issue
The Fetal Center SPRING 2019 JOURNAL In This Issue FEATURES: TAKING THE RESEARCH LONG VIEW TOWARD PREVENTION OF RHESUS DISEASE 06 A New Clinical Trial: Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells for Hypoxic Neurologic Injury 01 Leaders in Innovation: Rhesus Disease in Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Diagnosis and Treatment NEWS OF NOTE 04 A Miracle Baby for the Pinedas 08 The Fetal Center Welcomes New Recruits 09 NAFTNet Leadership Contact Us THE FETAL CENTER AT CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL UT Physicians Professional Building 6410 Fannin, Suite 210 Houston, TX 77030 Phone: 832.325.7288 Fax: 713.383.1464 Email: [email protected] Located within the Texas Medical Center, The Fetal Center is affiliated with Children’s ★FETAL Memorial Hermann Hospital, McGovern Medical NR School at UTHealth, and UT Physicians. To view The Fetal Center’s online resources, visit childrens.memorialhermann.org/thefetalcenter. FEATURE Leaders in Innovation: Rhesus Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Rhesus (Rh) disease, also known as Reproductive Sciences and the department of Rh-induced hemolytic disease of the Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. “The antibodies don’t usually cause fetus and newborn (HDFN), rhesus problems during a first pregnancy, because the baby alloimmunization or erythroblastosis may be born before the level of antibodies is high enough to have an effect. Rh antibodies are more fetalis, is relatively rare, occurring in likely to cause problems in second or later pregnan- about 2.5 out of every 100,000 live cies if the baby is Rh positive. Rh antibodies cross the placenta and attack the baby’s red blood cells, births in countries with well-established causing hemolytic anemia in the baby and leading to healthcare infrastructures.
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Rhesus Haemolytic Disease Is Entirely Preventable – but Many Babies Still Die (Or Suffer Disabilities) Because of It! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!
Rhesus Haemolytic Disease is entirely preventable – BUT many babies still die (or suffer disabilities) because of it! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! FACT: Rhesus Haemolytic Disease is a condition caused by the incompatibility between the blood of the mother and that of her fetus. If the mother is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive, when the baby is born some of the fetus’ Rh-positive red blood cells may enter the mother’s blood stream. When this happens they sensitise the Rh(D)-negative mother and in subsequent Rh(D)-positive pregnancies, this may evoke a secondary immunological response with a rapid and important production of antibodies against the D antigen. Rh incompatibility usually does not cause problems during the first pregnancy, since the baby is born before antibodies develop. The condition is, therefore, more likely to cause problems in the second and subsequent pregnancies. RISK: When it occurs there is a substantial risk to the fetus THE CURRENT BURDEN OF RH DISEASE TODAY of still birth or disabilities, including kerniterus (which causes deafness or cerebral palsy), fetal hydrops, fetal anemia and jaundice. Current burden of disease: • 50,000 stillbirths 50 years ago the solution was found –and yet today it • 114,000 neonatal deaths is still common because approximatelyhalf of all at- • 40,000 kernicterus and risk women around the world still do not receive basic cerebral palsy • 60,000 kernicterus and protective therapy often because the required infusion is hearing loss not available or simply because the need to provide this essential protection has been forgotten! PREVENTION: Prevention of this condition can be reliably provided by providing an intramuscular injection of anti-D immunoglobulin immediately after delivery – and also as a prophylactic during 28 – 32 week period of pregnancy.
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