[Rhesus-erythroblastosis. Diagnosis, therapy, prevention]

In consequence of feto-maternal disagreement within the rhesus-system the antibody production by the mother's immunogenic system can be initiated. Those rhesus-antibodies penetrate through the placental barrier and -- due to a massive heamolysis of the fetal erythrocytes -- they cause the principal symptoms such as anaemia, jaundice of the new born and hydrops congenitus universalis. Consequently adhered to screening examinations during pregnancy along with routine examinations of blood-group and antibody-titers help to determine a predisposition to as well as manifest incompatibilities. If antibody levels are suspiciously high, amniocentesis must be performed repeatedly. A possible severe damage to the child can be prevented by intrauterine blood-transfusion and by induced termination of labour or termination of pregnancy before date. The rhesus-injured newborn must be transferred immediately to an intensive-care-unit. In case of pronounced augmentation of the bilirubin-titer photo-therapy should be tried along with one or more blood-exchange transfusions. The formation of rhesus-antibodies can be prevented by prophylaxis with immunoglobulin-G-anti-D. The principle of this method is the suppression of maternal immune-response by application of 250-300 mug anti-D to the rhesus-negative mother after the birth of a rhesus-positive child.