Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 94-96

Journal: Transfusionsmedizin

Volume number: 10

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 2191-8805

eISSN: 2191-8813

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1085-1093

Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 
Maternal IgG alloantibodies against fetal red blood cell antigens (RBC) are of clinical significance in hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Severe HDFN cases lead to fetal anemia, hydrops fetalis, and postnatally to kernicterus of the newborn. Breast milk mainly contains secretory IgA antibodies, though IgM and IgG isotypes are present in lower concentrations. The presence of IgG class RBC alloantibodies in breast milk was recently associated in few cases of HDFN with prolonged course of anemia. In our case a neonate with postnatal anemia due to HDFN caused by maternal anti-c alloantibody (titer 128) was treated with two top-up transfusions and maternal anti-c RBC alloantibodies were identified in breast milk, applying anti-human globulin (AHG) gel card technique (Bio-Rad, Germany) and IgG specific solid phase technology, Capture-R Ready-Screen (Galileo, Immucor, Rodermark, Germany). The question whether RBC alloantibodies of IgG isotype in breast milk of puerperae are a causative factor in prolonged neonatal anemia in HDFN cases, as well as the mechanism responsible for the IgG transport from the neonatal gut into plasma cannot be answered yet with the few published cases. In HDFN cases with prolonged anemia, and without other causes for neonatal anemia, it could be useful to test the breastmilk formaternal RBC antibodies in order to answer some of these questions.

Harvard Citation style: Cooper, N., Wolff, J. and Ertl, B. (2020) Red Blood Cell Alloantibody in the Breast Milk - a Cause of Prolonged Anemia in Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn?, Transfusionsmedizin, 10(2), pp. 94-96. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1085-1093

APA Citation style: Cooper, N., Wolff, J., & Ertl, B. (2020). Red Blood Cell Alloantibody in the Breast Milk - a Cause of Prolonged Anemia in Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn?. Transfusionsmedizin. 10(2), 94-96. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1085-1093