Routine noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal RHD in plasma of RhD‐negative pregnant women—2 years of screening experience from Denmark. (13th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banch Clausen, F.; Steffensen, R.; Christiansen, M.; Rudby, M.; Jakobsen, M. A.; Jakobsen, T. R.; Krog, G. R.; Madsen, R. D.; Nielsen, K. R.; Rieneck, K.; Sprogøe, U.; Homburg, K. M.; Baech, J.; Dziegiel, M. H.; Grunnet, N.
• Is Part Of: Prenatal diagnosis. Volume 34:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1000
• Page End: 1005
• Publication Date: 2014-06-13
• Subjects: Prenatal diagnosis -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.32075
• DOI: 10.1002/pd.4419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3851

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="pd4419-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Prenatal and postnatal RhD prophylaxis reduces the risk of RhD immunization in pregnancies of RhD‐negative women. Based on the result from prenatal screening for the fetal <italic>RHD</italic> gene, prenatal RhD prophylaxis in Denmark is targeted to RhD‐negative women who carry an RhD‐positive fetus. Here, we present a 2‐year evaluation of a nationwide prenatal <italic>RHD</italic> screening.</p> </sec> <sec id="pd4419-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Blood samples were drawn from RhD‐negative women in gestational week 25. DNA was extracted from maternal plasma and analyzed for the <italic>RHD</italic> gene. The prenatal <italic>RHD</italic> results were compared with the serological typing of newborns in 12, 668 pregnancies. Early compliance was assessed for 690 pregnancies.</p> </sec> <sec id="pd4419-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The sensitivity for the detection of fetal <italic>RHD</italic> was 99.9% (95% CI: 99.7–99.9%). Unnecessary recommendation of prenatal RhD prophylaxis was avoided in 97.3% of the women carrying an RhD‐negative fetus. Fetuses that were seropositive for RhD were not detected in 11 pregnancies (0.087%). The sample uptake percentage was 84.2%, and the compliance for prenatal anti‐D administration was 93.2%.</p> </sec> <sec id="pd4419-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The high sensitivity, maintained over 2 years, underlines the reliability of routine prenatal fetal <italic>RHD</italic> screening in RhD‐negative pregnant women, specifically at 25 weeks of gestation. The remaining challenges are logistical and are related to program compliance. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>