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Biomedical subjects

C H Rodeck

Publications and source records attributed to C H Rodeck.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

When to perform the next intra-uterine transfusion in patients with Rh allo-immunization: combined intravascular and intraperitoneal transfusion allows longer intervals.

Data from 99 intra-uterine transfusions performed in 30 patients (31 fetuses) with Rh allo-immunization have been reviewed. Mean gestational age at the first transfusion was 23.6 weeks and mean fetal haematocrit 19.8%. The number of procedures was on average 3.2 per fetus. Survival rate was 84%. Fifty-nine intravascular transfusions were combined with intraperitoneal transfusions. Combined intravascular and intraperitoneal transfusions, when compared to intravascular transfusions alone, achieved a significantly longer interval between transfusions and also maintained a higher fetal haematocrit at the subsequent transfusion. Mean fall in fetal haematocrit was 0.98% per day with a wide range. There was a general tendency towards a less marked fall during the second interval between transfusions than in the first with the exception of those cases in which the percentage of fetal red cells at the start of the second transfusion was increased compared to that which was found at the end of the first, i.e., when fetal erythropoiesis was not suppressed.

Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine↗

Fetal macrocytosis in association with chromosomal abnormalities.

Mean red cell volume (MCV) was determined in 264 fetuses between 15-41 weeks. After exclusion of anemic, hypoxic, and chromosomally abnormal fetuses, the MCV in 208 umbilical venous samples was shown to decrease with gestation (r = 0.64; P less than .001), and a normal range was constructed by linear regression analysis. An elevated MCV was found in both fetuses with triploidy, in four of five with monosomy X, and in four of ten with trisomies 18 or 21. The MCV was similarly raised in four of five fetuses with gross anomalies in whom cytogenetic cultures had failed. Significant correlations were found in chromosomally abnormal fetuses between the elevation in MCV and both the nucleated red cell (r = 0.69; P less than .01) and reticulocyte counts (r = 0.57; P less than .05). There was a similar correlation with nucleated red cells in 16 severely anemic fetuses with Rh disease, 12 of whom had a raised MCV. Elevation in MCV was unrelated to hypoxia. Macrocytosis had a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 95% in the second trimester for predicting an abnormal karyotype in nonanemic fetuses (kappa index 0.60). Fetal MCV may provide clinically useful information while one awaits culture results. We suggest that karyotyping be considered in fetuses undergoing blood sampling for other indications in whom the MCV is raised.

Anemia↗

Consequences of fetomaternal haemorrhage after intrauterine transfusion.

Fetomaternal haemorrhage was studied after 68 consecutive fetal intravascular transfusions performed in 20 patients with Rh isoimmunisation. alpha Fetoprotein concentration was assayed in maternal blood taken before, and immediately after each transfusion and three and 24 hours later. An increase of 50% or more in the concentration in any of the samples after transfusion was considered to indicate fetomaternal haemorrhage. Fetal alpha fetoprotein concentration in blood sampled before transfusion was also assayed and the amount of fetomaternal haemorrhage calculated. Fetomaternal haemorrhage occurred in 21 of 32 patients with an anterior placenta and in six of 36 with a posterior or fundal placenta. The mean estimated volume of haemorrhage was 2.4 ml, which was on average equal to 3.1% of the total fetoplacental blood volume. When the volume of fetomaternal haemorrhage at the first transfusion was greater than 1 ml there was a greater increase in maternal Rh (D) antibody titres and a greater fall in fetal packed cell volume. Sampling of fetal blood should not be routinely done early in patients with Rh isoimmunisation, and intrauterine transfusion should be delayed as long as possible. Sampling sites other than the placental cord insertion reduces the risk of fetomaternal haemorrhage.

Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine↗

Fetal haemoglobin measurement in the assessment of red cell isoimmunisation.

A reference range of fetal haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) was established from umbilical cord blood samples obtained by cordocentesis (n = 200) or at delivery (n = 10). In normal pregnancy the mean fetal haemoglobin increases linearly from 11 g/dl at 17 weeks' gestation to 15 g/dl at 40 weeks' gestation and one standard deviation is approximately 1 g/dl. The haemoglobin was also measured in fetal blood from 154 red cell isoimmunised pregnancies from 17 to 36 weeks' gestation. In 48 fetuses with ultrasound features of hydrops the haemoglobin was 7-10 g/dl below the normal mean for gestation. It is proposed that in pregnancies complicated by red cell isoimmunisation the severity of the disease should be assessed and treated on the basis of the deviation of the fetal haemoglobin from the normal mean for gestation into mild (haemoglobin deficit less than 2 g/dl), moderate (deficit 2-7 g/dl), and severe (deficit greater than 7 g/dl).

Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine↗

Fetal blood sampling in investigation of chromosome mosaicism in amniotic fluid cell culture.

41 pregnancies in which mosaicism had been found on amniotic fluid culture (AFC) were investigated by fetal blood and repeat AFC karyotyping. Results of both investigations, and the infants, were normal in 15 of 16 cases of autosomal trisomy (including trisomies 8, 9, 13, 18, and 21) and in the 8 cases of sex chromosome mosaicism. In 1 case of trisomy 20 mosaicism the fetal blood karyotype and the infant were normal but the repeat AFC showed mosaicism. Abnormality was confirmed in 5 of 11 cases of mosaicism for structural chromosomal rearrangements and in 4 of 6 cases with de-novo supernumerary marker mosaicism. These findings indicate the potential danger of terminating pregnancies because of trisomic mosaicism in AFC, and the importance of identifying the clinical significance of certain chromosome rearrangements which, even in mosaic form, might lead to severe mental and developmental handicap.

Adult↗

Multiple sulphatase deficiency: prenatal diagnosis using chorionic villi.

Multiple sulphatase deficiency was diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy by demonstrating markedly reduced activities of arylsulphatases and heparin sulphamidase by direct assays on chorionic villi (CV). The diagnosis was confirmed by assays on cell cultures of villi and fetal skin fibroblasts. Two further pregnancies of this mother were monitored similarly and predicted to be unaffected; one produced a normal healthy infant, the other miscarried shortly after CV sampling.

Biopsy, Needle↗

The fetal intrahepatic umbilical vein as an alternative to cord needling for prenatal diagnosis and therapy.

Seventy-one fetal blood samplings (FBS) were attempted from the intrahepatic portion of the umbilical vein (IHV) at 18-34 weeks; 54 were attempted primarily and 17 secondarily after a failed attempt at the placental cord insertion. Fetal blood was obtained in 89 per cent of the cases. Intravascular transfusion (IVT) was attempted on 31 occasions and successful in 24 (77 per cent). In all cases of failed sampling or transfusion via the IHV, prenatal diagnosis and/or therapy was accomplished using alternative procedures. On only one occasion was the procedure postponed. There were no losses or neonatal morbidity attributable to the procedure. FBS from the IHV may be considered as an alternative approach to sampling the placental cord insertion. It is recommended in cases where the approach to the placental cord insertion is difficult or hazardous.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

Failure of ultrasonographic parameters to predict the severity of fetal anemia in rhesus isoimmunization.

Ultrasonographic measurements of placental thickness, extrahepatic and intrahepatic umbilical vein diameters, abdominal circumference, head circumference, head/abdominal circumference ratio, and intraperitoneal volume were made in 50 rhesus-isoimmunized pregnancies at 18 to 26 weeks' gestation. The severity of fetal anemia was assessed by fetal blood sampling. Results in the isoimmunized group were compared with a control population of 410 normal pregnancies at 17 to 32 weeks' gestation. In the absence of fetal hydrops, none of the parameters studied could reliably distinguish mild from severe fetal hemolytic disease.

Edema↗

Erythroblastosis and reticulocytosis in anemic fetuses.

The fetal blood erythroblast and reticulocyte counts were determined in umbilical cord samples obtained at 17 to 36 weeks' gestation from 127 pregnancies complicated by red blood cell isoimmunization. The reticulocyte count increased linearly with fetal anemia, and the erythroblast count increased exponentially. Significant erythroblastosis was observed only when the hemoglobin concentration deficit was greater than 7 gm/dl. Of the 52 fetuses with a hemoglobin concentration deficit greater than 7 gm/dl, 35 had ultrasonographic evidence of hydrops. These data suggest that medullary hematopoiesis is stimulated by mild anemia and that recruitment of extramedullary sites occurs when anemia is severe. Extensive hepatic erythropoiesis may be the cause of fetal hydrops in red blood cell isoimmunization.

Anemia↗

The effect of replacing fetal hemoglobin with adult hemoglobin on blood gas and acid-base parameters in human fetuses.

In order to determine whether the differences between fetal and adult hemoglobins are important to fetal oxygenation, pH, PO2, PCO2, bicarbonate, and base excess were measured in umbilical venous and arterial blood samples obtained from fetuses with erythroblastosis fetalis. The values from fetuses that had previously been transfused and had predominantly adult hemoglobins were compared with those that had not been transfused and had predominantly fetal hemoglobin. Umbilical arterial blood was more acidotic and had a greater base deficit, while the umbilical venous PO2 was 4.8 mm Hg higher in the samples with adult hemoglobins than in those with fetal hemoglobin. The results suggest that oxygenation of fetal tissue is better with fetal hemoglobin but that adult hemoglobin can be compensated by an increase in oxygen transfer.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Fetal blood sampling.

Fetal blood sampling is now performed in many centres through different approaches (fetoscopy, placentacentesis, cardiac puncture, umbilical cord needling, intrahepatic vein puncture) for prenatal diagnosis of congenital defects, management of intrauterine growth retardation and fetal therapy. One hundred and thirty-nine fetal blood samples have been performed during a 10 month period at Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital, London, using an individualized approach. One failure to obtain fetal blood occurred and there were four fetal losses, three of which followed an intrauterine transfusion in very severely affected fetuses. Two of these losses were associated with peculiar circumstances (see above). The procedure-related risk is nowadays more difficult to evaluate than in the past, when most fetal blood samplings were carried out in the second trimester for prenatal diagnosis. Most case studies, and ours as well, are not homogeneous and high-risk patients such as those with Rhesus disease or intrauterine growth retardation are also included. It seems, however, that transabdominal needling of the cord, at either placental or fetal insertion, is a low-risk procedure although a larger number of cases should be collected to draw definite conclusions about sampling from the intrahepatic vein. Fetoscopy also has a low risk in experienced hands, but the training period is certainly longer and the application in the second half of the pregnancy has been limited to a few cases. It is likely to be used only very little in the future. A flexible approach to fetal blood sampling allows the best choice of technique and utilizes the advantages of each technique.

Female↗

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate in normal, anaemic and transfused human fetuses.

1. The effect of anaemia and transfusion with adult blood on fetal 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels was investigated by studying fetal blood from 45 normal pregnancies at 17-42 weeks of gestation and in 34 pregnancies complicated by erythroblastosis fetalis. 2. In normal fetuses, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration was higher than in adults and did not change significantly with gestational age. 3. In erythroblastotic fetuses, there was a significant negative correlation between 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration and haemoglobin concentration. 4. When adult blood was transfused into the fetal circulation, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration reached similar levels to that found in untransfused fetuses after allowing for the severity of anaemia.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗