Journal of Blood & Lymph

Fetal Intrauterine Transfusion Therapy: Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract

Eman F Badran, Manar Al-lawama, Amira Masri, Iyad Al-Amouri and Fawaz Al Kazaleh

Background and objectives: Intrauterine blood transfusion (IUT) performed for fetal anemia may be associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to describe the clinical outcome of surviving neonates treated with IUT in an area where detailed outcome on neonatal data is limited.

Patients and methods: This prospective study included all living newborns treated with IUT at our institution between March 2004 and February 2011. During this period, 30 newborns with a mean gestation age of 35 weeks (range: 25-37 weeks) were admitted with various respiratory, hematological and gastrointestinal morbidities.

Results: The survival rate on discharge was 93%. Severe fetal anemia (72.2%) was significantly associated with a low reticulocyte count at birth and the need for respiratory support after birth (P<0.05). The number of IUTs was significantly correlated with the duration of admission (P=0.034) and the presence of hyporegenerative late anemia (P=0.007), but not with other neonatal outcomes or with a low reticulocyte count at birth. Use of intravenous immunoglobulin was significantly associated with an increased rate of top-up transfusion for late anemia and a decreased duration of admission, with no additional positive effects.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence on the types of potential neonatal morbidities after IUT therapy and their risk factors, and could be useful to clinicians treating fetuses with intrauterine transfusions and also for counseling parents.