Successful management of severe hemolytic disease of the fetus due to anti-Jsb using intrauterine transfusions with serial maternal blood donations: a case report and a review of the literature

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 238 - 243
• Main Authors: Al Riyami, Arwa Z., Al Salmani, Moza, Al Hashami, Sabria, Al Mahrooqi, Sabah, Al Hinai, Sumaiya, Al Balushi, Halima, Al Riyami, Nihal, Gowri, V., Al Dughaishi, Tamima, Al Hosni, Saif, Al-Khabori, Murtadha, Al-Farsi, Khalil, Al Huneini, Mohammed, Alkindi, Salam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2014; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors; Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine - methods; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Diseases of red blood cells; Erythroblastosis, Fetal - etiology; Erythroblastosis, Fetal - therapy; Female; Fetuses; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Isoantibodies - adverse effects; Isoantibodies - blood; Kell Blood-Group System - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Mothers; Pregnancy; Severity of Illness Index; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Treatment Outcome; Human; Transfusion; Critically ill; Hemopathy; In utero; Case study; Serial; Hemolytic anemia; Clinical management; Mother; Uterus; Blood donation; Female genital system; Fetus; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1111/trf.12331

Background The management of pregnant women with anti‐Jsb is challenging due to the paucity of antigen‐negative blood for fetal and neonatal transfusion. Case Report A 29‐year‐old woman with anti‐Jsb was referred for assessment of recurrent fetal losses. With the presence of the sister as a historically matched donor, she was planned for active surveillance for fetal anemia during pregnancy. Study Design and Methods The fetus remained well until 21 weeks of gestation when signs of fetal anemia and early hydrops fetalis were noted. Anti‐Jsb titer was at 128. The sister's red blood cells (RBCs) were cross‐match incompatible. Urgent intrauterine transfusion (IUT) was performed with washed irradiated maternal RBCs, donated after cessation of heparin. The mother was given intravenous iron (IV‐Fe) and continued on weekly recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu‐EPO). Results Repeated IUTs were needed every 1 to 3 weeks. Throughout a 7‐week period, three maternal donations were performed with total donated whole blood volume of 1250 mL, supporting four IUTs. At 29 weeks of gestation, the procedure was complicated by umbilical cord hematoma necessitating urgent cesarean section. A male newborn was delivered, transfused at birth, and subsequently treated with phototherapy and five top‐up transfusions. Conclusion This case represents a successful example of managing hemolytic disease of the fetus due to a rare antibody using maternal blood. It also supports previous data on safety of maternal donations during pregnancy and the use of combination of rHu‐EPO and IV‐Fe as a supportive measure.