A New Approach to the Diagnosis of Active Rho(D) Immunization in Passively Immunized Pregnant Women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An assay was developed to distinguish active from passive Rho(D) immunization in a patient who had recently received hyperimmune anti-Rho(D) Ig therapy. Isolated peripheral B lymphocytes from a pregnant woman at 32 wk gestation were co-cultured with Epstein-Barr virus in a liquid growth medium. After 7 days, anti-Rho(D) antibodies produced in vitro by the transformed lymphocytes were detected in culture supernatants, therapy proving active immunization and indicating the potential of hemolytic disease of the newborn in the current pregnancy. This assay was also performed with peripheral B lymphocytes from 3 groups of individuals: mothers known to be Rho(D) immunized and who recently delivered Rh-positive infants, women with long-standing Rho(D) immunization, and women who were treated with anti-Rho(D) globulin. In the 1st group, anti-Rho(D) antibodies were again detected after in vitro viral stimulation. In the latter 2 groups, essentially no anti-Rho(D) activity was detected.