Consequences for fetus and neonate of maternal red cell allo-immunisation

Anti-D remains the most common clinically important antibody in pregnancy, and accounts for the greatest fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Of the other antibodies detected, anti-c was associated with most neonatal morbidity. The production of many of the non-D antibodies detected could be avoided by the use of selected red cells when transfusing pre-menopausal women.