What is the use of 'Antiresusive immunoglobulin'?

In the blood of Rh-positive people there is a specific protein that is on the red blood cells. 15% of the world's population are Rh-negative, because they do not have this protein. Rhesus factor is an individual trait transmitted by inheritance, but it has no effect on human health.

Usually Rhesus accessory should be determined together with the blood group in the laboratory.

What is Rhesus Conflict?

This phenomenon worries women with a rhesus-negative blood. During pregnancy, a conflict may occur between the mother and the fetus, provided that the child has inherited Rh-positive blood from the father.

Normally, the blood of the mother and fetus is never mixed, but placental abnormalities and trauma can cause the fetal erythrocytes to enter the woman's bloodstream. When a certain "concentration threshold" is reached, the mother's immune system begins to produce antibodies against the foreign protein (it is the Rh factor on the fetal erythrocytes) for destruction, i.e., destruction of fetal blood. As a result, there is a hemolytic disease in the child. Sometimes the conflict can be so strong that the vices of the nervous system develop.

The probability of developing such a phenomenon is not so great, the first pregnancy (if there are no pathologies) most often ends safely, but each subsequent pregnancy increases the risk of conflict development by 10-15%.

Antibodies can also form after abortion, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, Caesarean section and placental abruption. The likelihood of sensitization depends on the number of red blood cells of the fetus that have got into the mother's body.

How to prevent Rhesus-conflict?

Although for the health of the mother Rhesus-conflict is not dangerous, the consequences of hemolytic disease for the baby are very difficult, so it is worthwhile to prevent this phenomenon in all women who have blood that is Rh-negative.

So, all pregnant women are assigned to conduct a blood test in the early stages of pregnancy to determine the Rh rhesus. The further algorithm of actions depends on the situation.

Usually the first pregnancy is normal. Throughout the term it is necessary to determine the level of antiresusive antibodies in a woman's blood . Up to 32 weeks, the blood is checked once a month, up to 35 weeks - twice a month, and then every week. While antibodies should not be. If a Rh-positive baby is born, then the mother must necessarily introduce the drug "Antiresusive immunoglobulin" in the first 72 hours after delivery. Such a measure on allows the appearance of antibodies to the Rh factor. This is necessary for the maintenance and normal course of subsequent pregnancy.

If an abortion, miscarriage or placental abruption occurs, this is also an indication to introduce "Antiresus immunoglobulin".

Conflict in the Rh factor in the first pregnancy can be associated with a previously transfused positive blood to a woman who has a Rh negative.

How does the drug "antiresusive immunoglobulin" work?

The substance prevents the formation of antibodies to the Rh factor, and hence, the appearance of hemolysis of erythrocytes in the fetus.

Most often, the blood of a child enters the bloodstream of the mother during childbirth, so the introduction of the drug "Antirezusny immunoglobulin" is shown to the woman immediately after the baby's birth. This measure is not taken for a given child, but helps prevent the development of hemolytic disease during the next pregnancy. At the doctor's discretion, the drug can also be administered at the end of the 28th week of pregnancy, if there is a risk of mixing two blood before delivery.

Contraindicated immunoglobulin antiresusive with the revealed sensitization (the presence of antibodies to the Rh factor in the blood of a pregnant woman), children, as well as women who have Rh-positive blood. It can not be administered intravenously. Dosage depends on the amount of blood (namely erythrocytes) that has got into the mother's body.

An antiresusive immunoglobulin allows a woman with Rh-negative blood to have as many children as she wants.