What is the effect on the fetus post administration of Rh (D) immunoglobulin?
Whilst it is reported that 10–15 per cent of the antibody crosses the placenta into the fetal circulation, the NHMRC Report (1999) stated that there is no evidence confirming an adverse effect of passive Rh (D) immunoglobulin on the embryo or fetus. However the studies which looked at safety for the fetus provided data limited to evaluation of the cord haemoglobin, bilirubin and direct Coombs’ tests. The NHMRC Report (2003) conducted a further literature review of the effect of circulating prophylactically administered Rh (D) immunoglobulin in the fetal circulation. One study was found that evaluated signs of haemolysis in babies of Rh (D) negative mothers who underwent prophylaxis with one or two doses of Rh D immunoglobulin during pregnancy. No statistically significant differences were found for any of the haematological variables between the babies of mothers who received one or two doses of Rh (D) immunoglobulin, or between the Rh (D) negative babies and the controls. Therefore th
