Minimal risk of Rh sensitization in induced abortions.

ABSTRACT

PIP Evidence from almost 700 consecutive first trimester abortions and 59 random second trimester abortions leads the author to question the need for administering full doses of anti-D globulin to legal abortion patients of Rho-negative blood type routinely. Of 699 first trimester cases, only 17 tested positive for fetal cells. All 17 had less than 2 ml of bleeding, and the remaining cases had no transplacental bleeding; these cases were aborted by curettage. A higher percentage (10%) aborted by saline tested positive, but as in the vacuum curettage group, all bled less than 2 ml. A 20-unit dose, vs. the standard 300-unit dose, is recommended.^ieng