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Is antenatal antibody screening worthwhile in Chinese?
British Journal of Haematology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Routine antenatal antibody screening may not be necessary for all pregnant Chinese women. This study found a low prevalence of clinically significant irregular antibodies, suggesting targeted screening for Rh D-negative individuals or those with a history of haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Obstetrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a serious condition.
- Antenatal antibody screening is standard practice in Western populations to prevent HDN.
- The prevalence of irregular antibodies in Chinese pregnant women is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of irregular antibodies in pregnant Chinese women.
- To assess the clinical significance of detected antibodies.
- To evaluate the necessity of routine antenatal antibody screening in this population.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 1997 pregnant women during their first antenatal visit.
- Testing patient sera against a panel of group O screen cells, including those with Miltenberger determinants.
- Identifying and categorizing irregular antibodies found in patient sera.
Main Results:
- 17 out of 1997 women (0.85%) had irregular antibodies.
- Four antibodies were of potential clinical significance: one anti-D, two anti-E, and one with anti-D, anti-E, and anti-G.
- The overall prevalence of clinically significant antibodies was low in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Routine antenatal antibody screening may not be essential for the general pregnant Chinese population.
- Targeted screening is recommended for Rh D-negative women and those with a history of HDN.
- Current screening protocols may require re-evaluation for specific ethnic groups.