Use of maternal plasma for noninvasive determination of fetal Rh D status

Determination of the fetal RhD typing using free fetal DNA in maternal plasma is beginning to enjoy widespread acceptance in Europe. Case 1, the partner of an RhD-sensitized patient, was identified with a heterozygous paternal phenotype by serologic testing. Maternal plasma was drawn at 18 weeks' gestation to determine the fetal RhD status. The result was unable to be reported as RhD negative; the patient subsequently underwent amniocentesis to confirm an RhD-negative fetus. Case 2, a partner of another RhD-sensitized patient; was similarly identified with a heterozygous paternal phenotype by serologic testing. Maternal plasma was also drawn at 18 weeks' gestation to determine the fetal RhD status. It returned RhD negative and allowed for the avoidance of invasive testing for the remainder of the pregnancy. Therefore, maternal plasma testing for fetal RhD status represents a new tool in the management of the cases of RhD alloimmunizatian in pregnancy. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.