Rh immunoglobulin-VF

Clinical experience with Rhesus (Rh) disease and its post-icteric sequelae is limited among high-income countries because of nearly over four decades of effective prevention care. We hypothesized that Rh disease is prevalent in other regions of the world because it is likely that protection is limited or non-existent. Following a worldwide study, it has been concluded that Rh hemolytic disease is a significant public health problem resulting in stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and is a major cause of severe hyperbilirubinemia with its sequelae, kernicterus and bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction. Knowing that effective Rh-disease prophylaxis depends on maternal blood-type screening, healthcare afforded to the high-risk mothers needs to be free of bottlenecks and coupled with unfettered access to effective Rh-immunoglobulin. Future studies that match the universal identification of Rh-negative status of women and targeted use of immunoprophylaxis to prevent childhood bilirubin neurotoxicity are within reach, based on vast prior experiences.

A review.The development of Rh Ig has been a major landmark in preventive medicine.Before its introduction, the Rh immunization rate was 13.2% per Rh-pos. pregnancy.Subsequent to introduction, the Rh immunization rate has been reduced to 0.14%.The failures are due to Rh immunization before 28 wk' gestation.The success rate of Rh immunoprophylaxis is 98.4-99%.