Rh immunoglobulin utilization after ectopic pregnancy

To assess the use of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG) after ectopic pregnancy, we reviewed the charts of 305 patients treated from 1975 through 1978 at a large metropolitan hospital. We compared these patients with 389 who had had spontaneous abortions and been treated at the same hospital in 1975. The rate of ascertainment of Rh type was significantly higher for the group with ectopic pregnancy than for the group with spontaneous abortion (98.4% versus 95.1%; p less than 0.05). Nevertheless, presumable fertile RhIG candidates after ectopic pregnancy were 3.3 times more likely not to receive RhIG than candidates after spontaneous abortion (64.3% versus 19.4%;; p less than 0.01). Patients with ectopic pregnancy are an important part of the "RhIG utilization gap"; the mechanism for providing prophylaxis for patients needs to be improved.