Introduction: The Italian Society of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology (SIMTI) carried out a survey on the current use of anti-D immunoprophylaxis (IP) in Italy, on its ways of use and on the impact that it has had on decreasing haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), due to maternal-foetal incompatibility for the D antigen.
Materials and methods: The survey was carried out using a questionnaire prepared by the Working Group established for this purpose by the SIMTI. The questions were divided into five groups: the ways of carrying out IP, evaluation of foetal-maternal haemorrhage, serological tests after IP, the current incidence of HDN, and data on exchange transfusions.
Results: Data were obtained from 69 Transfusion Services (TS). Four of these give IP antenatally, whereas in the remaining cases IP is given after birth. Almost all the TS evaluate the amount of foetal-maternal haemorrhage in order to give additional doses of anti-D IgG, with the most widely used method being the Kleihauer-Betke test. Data were collected from 176,010 pregnancies: 18,639 were D-negative women, of whom 18,440 were not immunised. There were 136 cases of HDN with anti-D antibodies, and 39 of these required exchange transfusions (ET). Furthermore, there were 1,535 pregnant women with anti-A and/or anti-B IgG, which were clinically significant in 83 and required ET in 37. Finally, 40 women had antibodies, directly related to the pregnancy, against antigens other than D (in eight of these cases ET was necessary).
Conclusions: The survey carried out by SIMTI was able to give a sufficiently full and accurate picture of current Italian practices concerning the use and ways of use of anti-D IP in pregnancy and the puerperum, as well as the incidence and characteristics of HDN. Furthermore, this survey was the basis for guidelines on the management of HDN, produced by SIMTI in collaboration with the Italian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Keywords: anti-D immunoglobulins; anti-D immunoprophylaxis; haemolytic disease of the newborn.