[Post partum rubella vaccination and anti-D prevention]

The effectiveness of a routinely performed puerperal rubella vaccination was tested. Additional a possible adverse influence of simultaneously administered anti-D immunoglobulin on the effectiveness of the rubella vaccination was examined. Rubella antibody titers (HHT) in pregnant women were determined; after delivery puerperal women with titers of less or equal 1:16 were selected for rubella vaccination. 2 1/2 to 3 months later rubella antibody titers were done again. 15% of 130 vaccinated women did not show a conversion of the former negative titer or a low titer of 1:8 remained. Also reductions of the antibody titers were seen. When simultaneously rubella vaccination and anti-D immunoglobulin was administered only in 1 case out of 27 patients a negative titer remained after vaccination. The used anti-D immunoglobulin contained rubella antibodies of a titer 1:256 to 1:512; according to experimental studies, this concentration should not have any influence to the immunologic response of rubella vaccination. Our practic results could not confirm the reservations concerning simultaneous rubella vaccination and anti-D prophylaxis.