What Are Alloimmunization and HDFN?

A diagnosis of maternal alloimmunization does not have to determine your family size. In addition to adoption and foster care, there are many alternatives to natural conception. For couples who prefer to have a natural pregnancy, see our pregnancy tour for proactive treatment options such as IVIG and plasmapheresis. Couples may also be able to participate in a clinical trial. There are four main alternatives to natural conception: sperm donation, surrogacy, in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (IVF with PGD), and embryo adoption. It must be clearly stated that in order to avoid HDFN due to maternal alloimmunization, all donor material must be antigen negative. There is no risk of HDFN if the fetus is antigen negative.

Rh Disease has been eradicated. False!

Rh disease has not been eradicated. Since the invention of Rh Immune Globulin (RhoGAM), sensitization rates for anti-D alloimmunization have plummeted, however, anti-D alloimmunization still occurs. For some women, Rhogam simply doesn’t work. Others are not given a high enough dose, or are not treated at the appropriate time. Since the number of women developing anti-D has decreased dramatically, alloimmunization to other antigens has become more common. Anti-Kell, anti-E, and anti-c are 3 clinically significant antibodies that are now most commonly found among pregnant women.

A history of alloimmunization from the 1600s to present. Discover the advances in testing, treatment, and outcomes for patients with Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) over the past 400 years.