TY - JOUR
T1 - Severe hemolytic disease from rhesus anti-C antibodies in a surrogate pregnancy after oocyte donation
T2 - A case report
AU - Mitchell, Simon
AU - James, Andrew
PY - 1999/4
Y1 - 1999/4
N2 - BACKGROUND: Maternal sensitization with rhesus anti-C antibodies is comparatively rare and usually benign. In pregnancies conceived using donor oocytes, the mother's blood group may differ from that of both the father and the oocyte donor, making blood group incompatibility more likely. CASE: Twins, the result of a surrogate pregnancy using donor oocytes, were born with severe hemolytic disease due to rhesus anti-C antibodies. Both infants required exchange transfusion for profound anemia at birth. Isoimmunization in the surrogate mother was not detected antenatally. The twins were delivered by emergency cesarean section due to fetal compromise, detected fortuitously when the mother attended for routine fetal assessment at 35 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: Isoimmunization with anti-C antibodies is not always benign and may cause significant hemolytic disease. With the success of in vitro fertilization and oocyte donation, more infertile couples may use these methods to conceive, with or without surrogacy arrangements. In such cases, the provision of antenatal care may become a complex matter, involving several parties, and good communication between everyone involved is vital. In pregnancies conceived with donor oocytes, there may be a higher risk of blood group incompatibility, and special vigilance is warranted. (J Reprod Med 1999;44: 388-390).
AB - BACKGROUND: Maternal sensitization with rhesus anti-C antibodies is comparatively rare and usually benign. In pregnancies conceived using donor oocytes, the mother's blood group may differ from that of both the father and the oocyte donor, making blood group incompatibility more likely. CASE: Twins, the result of a surrogate pregnancy using donor oocytes, were born with severe hemolytic disease due to rhesus anti-C antibodies. Both infants required exchange transfusion for profound anemia at birth. Isoimmunization in the surrogate mother was not detected antenatally. The twins were delivered by emergency cesarean section due to fetal compromise, detected fortuitously when the mother attended for routine fetal assessment at 35 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: Isoimmunization with anti-C antibodies is not always benign and may cause significant hemolytic disease. With the success of in vitro fertilization and oocyte donation, more infertile couples may use these methods to conceive, with or without surrogacy arrangements. In such cases, the provision of antenatal care may become a complex matter, involving several parties, and good communication between everyone involved is vital. In pregnancies conceived with donor oocytes, there may be a higher risk of blood group incompatibility, and special vigilance is warranted. (J Reprod Med 1999;44: 388-390).
KW - Anemia, hemolytic
KW - Anti-C antibodies
KW - Isoimmunization, rhesus
KW - Oocyte donation
KW - Surrogate mothers
KW - Twins
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0040288541&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 0024-7758
VL - 44
SP - 388
EP - 390
JO - The Journal of reproductive medicine
JF - The Journal of reproductive medicine
IS - 4
ER -