Production of Plasma with High Anti‐D Concentration in Rh‐Negative Volunteers

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Abstract
Sixty-three Rh-negative [human] male volunteers were immunized with D-positive red cells. A total of 28 (44%) produced anti-D. To provide sustained levels of high concentration of anti-D, 18 of the 28 male volunteers received repeated antigenic stimuli at individual intervals of 2-9 mo. In all but 1 case the level of anti-D rose to between 30 and 300 .mu.g/ml and persisted at this level for several years. There was no evidence of a decrease in antibody [Ab] response with an increase in the number of stimuli. Of 24 Rh-negative women immunized by pregnancy and restimulated, 16 achieved anti-D concentrations over 21 .mu.g/ml. The levels achieved were not influenced by the different D-positive cells injected, nor were larger antigenic doses of any benefit. No untoward clinical reactions occurred as a result of the repeated injections of antigenic material or of long-term plasmapheresis. Two volunteers developed unwanted Ab outside the Rh-system. Beginning in 1968, the program to obtain anti-D plasma has yielded more than 70,000 doses of 250 .mu.g each, permitting the treatment of all Rh-negative women at risk.