[Prevention of Rh (D) alloimmunization in Rh (D) negative women in pregnancy and after birth of Rh (D) positive infant].

Objective: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of antenatal anti-D immunoglobulin on the incidence of Rhesus D alloimmunization when given to Rh-negative women without anti-D antibodies and assess the effects of giving anti-D to Rhesus negative women, with no anti-D antibodies, who had given birth to a Rhesus positive infant.

Design: A review article.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Medical Genetics and Fetal Medicine, University Hospital, Olomouc, Ministry of Health, Czech Republic.

Subject And Method: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, refence lists of relevant articles and bibliographies.

Conclusion: The risk of Rhesus D alloimmunization during or immediately after a first pregnancy is about 1%. Administration of 100 microg (500 IU) anti-D to women in their first pregnancy can reduce this risk to about 0.2% without, to date, any adverse effects. Anti-D, given within 72 hours after childbirth, reduces the risk of RhD alloimmunization in Rhesus negative women who have given birth to a Rhesus positive infant. However the evidence on the optimal dose is limited.