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Hemolytic disease of the fetus can be detected accurately by using Doppler ultrasound to measure velocity of blood flow in the middle cerebral artery, the main artery supplying blood to the brain. Because ultrasound is noninvasive and safe, investigators believe this test can replace amniocentesis. Hemolytic disease of the fetus occurs when the mother carries antibodies that attack a protein called rhesus (Rh) D that may be found on the fetus’ red blood cells. Usually, the mother develops these antibodies during one pregnancy and then the problem occurs during a subsequent pregnancy. A counter-antibody therapy called RhoGAM is given to the mother and is usually, but not always, successful in preventing the problem. In pregnancies complicated by so-called “Rh alloimmunization,” fetuses can develop hemolytic anemia, causing decreased blood viscosity, which results in high blood-flow velocities that can be detected by ultrasound, the researchers explain in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The ultrasound is noninvasive and safe, investigators believe this test can replace amniocentesis. Hemolytic disease of the fetus can be detected accurately by using Doppler ultrasound to measure velocity of blood flow in the middle cerebral artery disease of the fetus occurs when the mother carries antibodies that attack a protein called rhesus (Rh) D that may be found on the fetus’ red blood cells. Usually, the mother develops these antibodies during one pregnancy and then the problem occurs during a subsequent pregnancy. A counter-antibody therapy called RhoGAM is given to the mother and usually, but not always, successfully in preventing the problem. In pregnancies complicated by so-called “Alloimmunization,” fetuses can develop hemolytic anemia, causing decreased blood viscosity , which results in high blood-flow velocities that can be detected by ultrasound, the researchers explain in The New England Journal of Medicine.