Prenatal Determination of Fetal Rhesus D Status from Peripheral blood of Rhesus D-Negative Mothers

Shin, J C; Chung, D Y; Baik, E J; Choi, Y K; Hong, O K; Rho, S H; Kwon, Y I; Lee, J S; Kim, C Y; Kim, S P

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine usefulness as a method that allow prenatal diagnosis of fetal RhD status using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] from maternal peripheral blood. Study design: Thirteen maternal peripheral blood samples obtained at 7~34 weeks` gestation were tested for fetal RhD status using heminested PCR with primers specific for the genes cording for RhD and RhCc/Ee. After first amplification of 30 cycles with primers RD-A3/RD-A2 [291bp in size], second amplification of various cycles was performed using primers RD-A5/RD-A2 [262bp in size]. Paternal and fetal RhD status was confirmed by serologic and/or PCR methods.
RESULTS
All fathers and fetuses were typed RhD positive. After first amplification of 30 cylces, fetal RhD status could be determined in one of 13 cases. Fetal RhD status could be determined in 2, 12, 12 and 13 of 13 cases in each after second amplification of 10, 15, 20 and 25 cycles.
CONCLUSION
This study was suggested that a noninvasive method for prenatal diagnosis of the fetal RhD status using heminested PCR offers useful information for the management of Rh-negative pregnant women. Furthermore, this method can be applied to other genetic disorders and is expected to become the preferred method of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis in DNA level.