Neonatal Med.  2020 Nov;27(4):187-191. 10.5385/nm.2020.27.4.187.

Acute Fetomaternal Hemorrhage Confirmed by Maternal Alfa-Fetoprotein in Monochorionic Diamniotic Neonates under 1,500 g

• Yoo C
• Han S
• Jeong H
• Heo JS
• Lee HS
• Jeon J

• KMID: 2510824
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2020.27.4.187

Abstract

Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) is due to the entry of fetal blood into the maternal circulation. Although very rare, FMH complicates pregnancies, presents with severe symptoms, and leads to fetal death. Majority of FMH cases are idiopathic and difficult to diagnose. The known used diagnostic tests are Kleihauer-Betke Test (KBT) and flow cytometry, which can detect fetal hemoglobin in the maternal blood. However, such methods have limited use because of low sensitivity, labor-intensive and error-susceptible procedures, poor reproducibility, and tendency to overestimate the FMH volume. Other tests include high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tests, which can be as favorable to confirm FMH as KBT. However, in case of acute FMH, the diagnostic results of KBT, flow cytometry, and HPLC may be false negative. AFP test is a noninvasive, fast, easily assessable, adjuvant, and confirmatory diagnostic test. Published Korean articles show confirmed FMH by KBT or HPLC in singleton late-preterm and term neonates. Herein, we report a case of monochorionic diamniotic twin neonates (birth weight <1,500 g) who presented borderline fetal hemoglobin level because of acute FMH and were diagnosed with FMH by maternal AFP. Our experience of diagnosing FMH rapidly by AFP test will be very helpful to clinicians for the prevention and treatment of FMH during pregnancy.

Keyword

Fetomaternal transfusion; Infant, very low birth weight; Monochorionic diamniotic twin; Alpha-fetoproteins

Figure

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  Figure 1. (A) Brain ultrasonography of the first infant. The left, middle, and right images are shown in the coronal, left sagittal, and right sagittal views, respectively. These images show intracranial hemorrhage grade IV. (B) Brain ultrasonography of the second infant. The left, middle, and right images are shown in the coronal, left sagittal, and right sagittal views, respectively. These show intracranial hemorrhage grade III/IV, R/O brain ischemic injury, and R/O brain edema.

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