RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In low-resource countries, screening for D antibodies to detect pregnancies at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn is not routine practice. Retrospective data showed that 5.5% of Surinamese newborns of D-negative women had a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT), indicating the presence of maternal antibodies against fetal antigens. Here, the frequency and clinical relevance of DAT positivity is evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between April 2015 and June 2016, an observational, multicenter cohort study was undertaken among Surinamese newborns born to D-negative women. In newborns, the DAT was performed, and clinical outcomes between DAT-negative and DAT-positive newborns were compared. RESULTS: Of the 232 evaluable newborns, 19 (8.2%) had a positive DAT, of which 11 of 15 antibody-tested newborns had D antibodies. DAT-positive newborns had lower hemoglobin levels (p = 0.02) and a trend toward higher bilirubin concentrations (p = 0.09) in the first days of life compared with DAT-negative newborns. DAT-positive newborns were admitted more frequently (p = 0.02), needed phototherapy treatment almost four times as often as DAT-negative newborns (26% vs. 7%; p = 0.008), and therapy took 2 days longer (p = 0.01). Exchange transfusions were performed in two newborns with D antibodies, both complicated with sepsis. The hospital stay was 2.5 days longer for DAT-positive newborns (p = 0.007). Overall, the prevalence of hemolytic disease of the newborn requiring treatment was 2.2% among the whole cohort of newborns. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of DAT positivity with substantial need for hyperbilirubinemia treatment in newborns in Suriname. These results stress the necessity for better management procedures in D-negative women.