Yasser OSMANA, Mashael ALKHALDIA
Abstract
Objectives: HDFN is caused by maternal alloantibodies against foetal erythrocytes that might cause morbidity and mortality in the foetus and newborn. Our study aims to investigate the incidence of Haemolytic disease of foetus and newborn (HDFN), Direct Coomb’s test (DCT), cord blood and to identify the eluted antibodies in those patients. Besides, to evaluate the adapted protocol regarding Rosette and Kleihauer Betke test.
Methods/Materials: A retrospective study of all newborns with positive DCT using cord blood samples. Descriptive data were analyzed as frequency and percentage or mean and range. Bivariate analysis for categorical variables was done using chi square or fisher exact test. The p value was at 95% confidence interval. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 29.
Outcomes: The commonest cause of positive cord blood DCT in newborn babies without evidence of haemolysis was due to ABO, RH and Kell blood groups’ mismatch between mothers and their babies. Correlation analysis of positive DCT with hemolysis parameters in the babies was unremarkable with insignificant p. value. We found no significant correlation between HDFN and hemoglobin level, Reticulocyte count, and serum bilirubin. The only significant correlation was between the positivity of DCT and anti RhD eluted antibodies with p=0.02.
Conclusion: The commonest cause of positive cord blood DCT in newborns without evidence of hemolysis was due to ABO, Rh and Kell blood groups’ mismatch. DCT positivity has significant correlation with anti RhD eluted alloantibodies. We suggest considering RhD alloantibodies a predictive tool to initiate prophylactic management for preventing susceptible haemolytic events in newborns.
Keywords: HDFN; DCT; Eluted antibodies; ABO; Other blood groups
https://doi.org/10.59854/dhrrh.2024.2.4.167
