PRENATAL DETERMINATION OF FETAL RHD TYPE BY POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTIONON AMNIOCYTES - INITIAL CLINICAL-EXPERIENCES

Purpose: Prenatal fetal RhD typing by means of polymerase chain reacti on on amniotic fluid cells is a valuable tool for the management of al loimmunised pregnant women whose partners are known to be heterozygous for the RhD gene. Our purpose was to establish the reliability of fet al RhD typing using PCR and to assess the possible clinical applicatio n on this molecular technique. Material and Method: Analysis of amniot ic fluid samples (n=35) and adult blood samples (n=83) was performed u sing two sets of primers to amplify different exons of both RhD and Rh CE genes. Results: In all cases there was a complete agreement between the results of PCR and serologic typing. This technique was applied t o amniotic fluid samples obtained by amniocentesis from five RhD-negat ive women with known RhD sensitisation and heterozygous partners. Know ledge of the fetal RhD status enabled rational clinical management in these pregnancies. Conclusion: RhD gene analysis is a rapid and reliab le technique that provides an accurate fetal genotype which is potenti ally able to be a great help in the prenatal care of alloimmunised pre gnant women.