The transfusion of Rh-positive blood into Rh-negative women

Abstract

The incidence of occurrence of transfusion of Rh-positive blood into Rh-negative individuals is unknown at the present time. A survey was designed to ascertain this information for the 12 month period ending March 31, 1974. Replies were obtained from 2,286 transfusion facilities in the United States. A total of 203 patients were reported to have received Rh-incompatible transfusions during the interval studied. Of these, 44 were women 49 years of age or under. Slightly more than half the women who received Rh-positive blood were treated with Rh0 (D) immune globulin. Those who received an adequate dose did not develop antibodies when appropriately tested. Twenty-five per cent of those who received an inadequate dose of Rh-immune globulin developed antibodies. Forty-two per cent of those receiving no Rh-immune globulin prophylaxis were noted to have antibodies.