BMJ  2008;336:783-784 (12 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.39533.358252.BE (published 3 April 2008)

Editorials

Universal RHD genotyping in fetuses

Is effective, and could dramatically reduce unnecessary anti-RhD prophylaxis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Non-invasive detection of fetal RHD status using maternal plasma is one of the few real advances in fetal medicine or obstetrics in recent years. DNA amplification of one or more region of the RHD gene can predict the fetal genotype with an accuracy of almost 99%.^{1 2} This means that invasive procedures (amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling)—which carry a small but important risk of pregnancy loss and may also increase the risk of sensitisation in pregnancies at risk from fetal haemolytic disease—can be abandoned.

Non-invasive ascertainment of the fetal RHD genotype (and other red cell antigens) is now used routinely in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world.³ The technology, although labour intensive, is relatively simple and very reliable. In the accompanying study, Finning and colleagues assess the feasibility of applying a high throughput method for predicting RhD phenotype from fetal DNA in the plasma of pregnant women who are . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS

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Related Article

Effect of high throughput RHD typing of fetal DNA in maternal plasma on use of anti-RhD immunoglobulin in RhD negative pregnant women: prospective feasibility study

Kirstin Finning, Pete Martin, Joanna Summers, Edwin Massey, Geoff Poole, and Geoff Daniels
BMJ 2008 336: 816-818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2008). Test Mom for Fetal DNA and Save an Anti-RhD Ig Shot. JWatch Women's Health 2008: 2-2 [Full text]