Intravenous anti-D as a treatment for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) during pregnancy

MICHEL, MARC
NOVOA, MARIA V.
BUSSEL, JAMES B.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

Correspondence: Marc Michel, The New York Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 525 East 68th street, New York, NY 10021, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 23 April 2003; accepted for publication 10 June 2003

British Journal of Haematology 123(1):p 142-146, October 2003.

Summary

This pilot study assessed the safety and efficacy of intravenous anti-D in eight Rh(D)-positive women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The median pretreatment platelet count was 28 × 10⁹/l. The patients received one to seven anti-D infusions at a mean dose of 62.7 μg/kg, and the response rate to anti-D was 75%. A haemoglobin decrease of > 2.0 g/dl occurred only once. Fetal hydrops was not identified by ultrasonography. The direct antiglobulin test was positive in three out of seven Rh⁺ newborns, none of whom was anaemic or jaundiced. Anti-D is effective and appears to be safe for both mother and fetus.