Prevalence of alloantibodies associated with haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn in pregnant women at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is caused by maternal alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens, which could result in fetal anaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, kernicterus, and death. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of alloantibodies against erythrocyte antigens in blood samples of pregnant women during the first trimester which may cause HDFN. A total of 123 consenting pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Ekiti state University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti participated in the study which lasted three months. The participants were within the ages of 16 to 45 years old across the major ethnic group in Nigeria. ABO/Rh typing, screening and identification of red blood cell alloantibodies were carried out using standard protocols. 15 (12.2%) subjects had detectable antibodies known to cause haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The specificity of the antibodies was as follows: anti-K (5, 33%), anti-k (3, 20%), anti- Jsa (2, 13%), anti-C. (3, 20%), and anti-E (2, 13 %). Based on ethnicity, the prevalence of Kell antibodies was highly significant among the Yorubas as well as anti-C and anti-E. The observation was similar in the Igbo and Hausa groups. There is a need to determine these antibodies and monitor their titre in pregnant women to manage or prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with HDFN during routine antenatal care. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27[6s]: 70-78). Keywords: Alloimmunization, alloantibodies, hemolytic disease of the newborn, incompatible blood transfusion La maladie hemolytique du foetus et du nouveau-ne (HDFN) est causee par l'allo-immunisation maternelle contre les antigenes des globules rouges, ce qui peut entrainer une anemie foetale, une hyperbilirubinemie, un ictere nucleaire et la mort. Cette etude a ete concue pour determiner la prevalence des allo-anticorps contre les antigenes erythrocytaires dans les echantillons de sang des femmes enceintes au cours du premier trimestre qui peuvent causer HDFN. Un total de 123 femmes enceintes consentantes frequentant la clinique prenatale de l'hopital universitaire d'Etat d'Ekiti, Ado Ekiti, ont participe a l'etude qui a dure trois mois. Les participants etaient ages de 16 a 45 ans dans le principal groupe ethnique du Nigeria. Le typage ABO/Rh, le depistage et l'identification des allo-anticorps erythrocytaires ont ete realises selon des protocoles standards. 15 (12,2 %) sujets avaient des anticorps detectables connus po