Blood Donation During Pregnancy Due to Anti-Ku Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn

Abstract

Background: Management of pregnancy in patients with Kell-null phenotype can be challenging. The immune systems of these patients form an antibody that is universally reactive against the Kell Blood Group System and can cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Methods: A 29-year-old woman, pregnant for the first time, developed anti-D and anti-Ku. The mother had to have labor induced when her fetus showed signs of severe anemia, but no compatible blood was available for transfusion. The induction was delayed so that a unit of blood could be collected from the mother.

Results: Due to delayed cord clamping at delivery, the newborn did not have anemia and did not require a transfusion. The remaining blood was frozen for future needs.

Conclusion: Blood donation by a pregnant woman for potential transfusion to a newborn with anemia is safe for the mother and fetus, and is possibly the only option in hemolytic disease of the newborn due to a rare antibody.

Keywords: anti-Ku; blood donation; hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn; immunohematology; pregnancy; transfusion.