PRENATAL RHD-TYPING OF THE FETUS USING PO LYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN AMNIOTIC CELLS

In Rhesus incompatibility, prenatal RhD typing of the fetus requires i ntrauterine blood sampling by cordocentesis or by chorionic villus bio psy. Amniocentesis is easier to perform, and carries a lower risk of e nhancement of maternal immunization. Therefore, we evaluated polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) for fetal RhD typing in amniocytes which were i solated fi-om amniotic fluid (18-40 gw) obtained by amniocentesis (n = 26) or during delivery (n = 27). In the clinically most important gro up of children from RhD-negative women (n = 25) and in 28 newborns of RhD- positive mothers, we found a 100 percent agreement between the fi ndings of PCR and the results of serologic typing. If these encouragin g results are confirmed in a larger series, the method could be used f or the clinical management of RhD-negative women with Rhesus incompati bility and a heterozygous RhD-positive partner.