Features of the cardiovascular system of fetuses and newborns after intrauterine intravascular blood transfusion

Intrauterine intravascular blood transfusion is an effective and relatively safe treatment method for severe fetal anemia. This technique have been used for more than 30 years already, however, there are no systematic works devoted to the features of the cardiovascular system in fetuses and newborns after intrauterine intravascular blood transfusion. The authors have decided to study this problem and have conducted a prospective trial of fetuses and children (n=34) with hemolytic anemia who underwent intrauterine blood transfusion. To assess the condition of the cardiovascular system, the scientists have carried out an ultrasound examination of the heart, which results have revealed pathological changes: dilatation of the cardiac cavities, myocardial hypertrophy, hydropericardium, cardiomegaly still present in the postnatal period. The scientists have used fetal and neonatal therapy for the patients with these pathologies. In the case of late correction of severe fetal anemia, there was a progressive deterioration in the condition of the fetus and remodeling of the cardiovascular system, which indicates the need for timely diagnosis. Based on the results of the study, the scientists have developed the protocols for ultrasound diagnostics of fetuses and newborns with moderate and severe anemia.

Twin anemia polycythemia sequence – modern approaches to diagnosis and antenatal correction

Twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is a specific complication of the monochorionic multiple birth, which is based on chronic feto-fetal blood transfusion over placental vascular anastomoses, and the main clinical symptom is discordant fetal hemoglobin level in the absence amniotic fluid imbalance. Currently, there is no generally recognized consensus on the optimal treatment tactics. Dynamic observation, labor, intrauterine blood transfusion, selective fetocide, fetoscopic laser coagulation of placental vascular anastomoses are applied, although the latter is recognized by the majority of researchers as the most promising method for treating TAPS. There are disagreements in estimating the frequency of perinatal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, complicated by the development of TAPS, and their real value has not yet been completely defined. Key words: intrauterine transfusion, Solomon method, monochorionic twins, twin anemia polycythemia sequence, fetoscopic laser coagulation

Plasmapheresis for the Treatment of Anti-M Alloimmunization in Pregnancy

Intrauterine transfusion is the standard antenatal treatment for a fetus with severe anemia. Plasmapheresis is an alternative treatment for cases with a history of severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborns at less than 20 weeks of gestation. There is only one previous report of plasmapheresis for the anti-M alloimmunization in pregnancy, and we report here on the successful treatment of plasmapheresis for anti-M alloimmunization. A woman with a history of intrauterine fetal death at 24 weeks of gestation due to severe fetal anemia caused by anti-M alloimmunization received plasmapheresis once or twice a week from 14 weeks of gestation onward. An intrauterine blood transfusion was conducted at 28 weeks, and a cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks. The infant had anemia and jaundice but was discharged at day 46. Plasmapheresis may delay the development of fetal anemia and reduce the risk of early and repeat intrauterine transfusion in cases of anti-M alloimmunization in pregnancy.

Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion: Descriptive study of the first four years’ experience in Oman

Objectives: Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) causes hydrops fetalis. The successful treatment of HDFN has been reported with intrauterine blood transfusion (IUT). This study aimed to describe the initial experience with IUT procedures in Oman. Methods: This retrospective observational study took place at the Royal Hospital and Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Blood Bank, Muscat, Oman, and included all women who underwent IUT procedures in Oman between March 2012 and March 2016. Gestational and neonatal outcomes were assessed, including complications, morbidity, neurodevelopmental sequelae and mortality. Results: A total of 28 IUT procedures for 13 fetuses carried by 11 women were performed. Gestational age at the time of referral ranged from 13–30 weeks, while the median gestational age at first IUT procedure was 26 weeks (range: 19–30 weeks). Indications for the procedure included HDFN caused by anti-D (n = 6), a combination of anti-D and anti-C (n = 4), anti-K (n = 1) and anti-Jsb (n = 1) antibodies and nonimmune hydrops fetalis due to a congenital parvovirus infection (n = 1). Median fetal haemoglobin levels at the beginning and end of the procedure were 4.6 g/dL and 12.8 g/dL, respectively. Most procedures were transplacental intravascular transfusions through the placental umbilical cord root (71.4%), followed by transamniotic intravascular transfusions (14.3%). The overall survival rate was 61.5%, with five deaths; of these, four were intrauterine and one was an early neonatal death due to non-resolved hydrops and severe cardiac dysfunction. Conclusion: As a relatively novel obstetric procedure in Oman, IUT seems to result in a favourable outcome for hydropic fetuses.