Korean J Perinatol.
2008 Jun;19(2):203-208.
Two cases of massive fetomaternal hemorrhage treated by exchange transfusion
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Ulsan, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
- 2Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Ulsan, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
- 3Department of Pediatrics of Chungang University, Seoul, Korea. imljj@naver.com
Abstract
- Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage is major cause of neonatal anemia. And neonatal anemia is fatal disease of high mortality rate. Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage is defined as hemorrhage of fetal blood above 150 mL in the maternal circulation. Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage is infrequent but represents a fatal cause of perinatal death. To identify fetal blood in the maternal circulation, Kleihauer-Betke test or flow cytometry has been usually used. But recently HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) is used in the detection and quantification of fetomaternal transfusion. In fetomaternal transfusion, anemic newborn must be treated when circulatory failure is present. Circulatory failure often necessitates blood transfusion. We report two cases of severe anemia due to massive fetomaternal hemorrhage in full term baby. Each case was diagnosed by high performance lipuid chromatography and treated with exchange transfusion in order to avoid fluid overload and subsequent heart failure.
