RESUMO
Introduction: Maternal red cell alloimmunization to Rh antigen in pregnant women occurs when the immune system is sensitized by foreign red blood cell surface antigens, in this case fetal red blood cells, inducing an immune response. Various antigens of blood group systems may cause alloimmunization, especially the Rh, Kel, Fy, JK, and MNS systems. This study aimed to determine alloimmunization to the different frequencies of Rh antigen among pregnant women in South Western Uganda. Methods: A total of 1369 pregnant women consented and were recruited into a cross-sectional study during their regular antenatal visits during the period August 2020 to July 2021. Samples (4 mL) of anticoagulated and coagulated blood were obtained, and Rh blood grouping including Rh antigen and the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) was carried out using the agglutination technology of the LISS ID-Card technique in the Ortho Biovue ID-Micro Typing System. Results: Out of 1369 participants recruited to the study, 78 (5.7%) were D-, 1291 were D+, and 134 (9.8%) had alloantibodies. Among those with alloantibodies, 115 (85.8%) were D+ and 19 (14.2%) D-. The percentage alloimmunization according to the Rh antigens was highest in e (9.72%), c (2.48%), C (2.34%) and E (0.94%) antigens. With the ABO system, alloimmunization was highest in blood group B (10.7%), followed by A (10.6%), O (9.2%) and then AB (7.1%). Alloimmunization was more prevalent in D- (24%) than in D+ participants (8.9%). Rhesus antigen e was the most prevalent antigen (99.8%), followed by c. The alloimmunization rate of 9.8% among these participants is high, and appears in both D+ and D- women. The other Rhesus antigens are seen to cause alloimmunization, with antigen e causing the highest prevalence. In conclusion, there is a need to identify antibodies and study the outcome for clinical significance, especially in D+ women, to facilitate proper pregnancy management.
RESUMO
Background: Accurate placement of pedicle screws in the subaxial cervical spine requires precise understanding of vertebra anatomy. Little is known about the morphometric characteristics of the subaxial cervical pedicle in the Ugandan population. The objective of the study was to determine the morphometric dimensions of pedicles in the subaxial cervical spine among the adult Ugandan population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from March to November 2019 among adult Ugandans with a normal cervical CT scan at Nsambya hospital in Kampala. Eligible participants were consecutively recruited into the study. Data on baseline characteristics and pedicle dimensions from the CT scan finding was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using Stata 13.0. Pedicle dimensions for the different levels of subaxial cervical vertebrae were summarised as means and standard deviations, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare pedicle dimensions for the different vertebra levels among females and males on both right and left sides, and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 700 subaxial cervical pedicles (C3-C7) from 49 males and 21 female participants were studied. Pedicle width diameter showed cephalocaudal gradual increment from C3 1.65(0.63) mm to 3.46(0.75) mm at C7. Pedicle height also showed an increase caudally with smallest diameter at C3 (1.98(0.76) mm) and largest at C5 in females (3.67(6.42) mm) and at C7 in males (3.83(0.76) mm). The pedicle height was wider than the pedicle width at all levels. The pedicle chord length gradually increased caudally in both sexes ranging from 29.08(1.35) mm at C3 to 32.53(3.19) mm at C7. The axial angles were oriented medially and showed no consistent trend ranging between 50° and 53°. The sagittal angles decreased as one moved from C3 to C7. The dimensions of females were significantly smaller than in males. Conclusion: Pedicle endosteal width was smaller than pedicle height dimensions at all levels. Pedicle cord length increased caudally. The pedicle dimensions, except angulations, were smaller in females than in males.
