[Investigations on the influence of Rh immunoglobulin prophylaxis on the immune response to postpartum rubella vaccination (author's transl)].

A preliminary investigation showed that patients with rubella HHT antibody titres of 1:8 or greater did not show a significant rise in the antibody titre following rubella vaccination. The rubella antibody titre was determined in 651 obstetric patients. Of these, 43 (6.6%) had no significant antibodies to rubella (HHT less than 1:8) and were included in the present investigation. Patients in Group A received 0.5 ml. of the rubella vaccine Meruvax on the fifth postpartum day. Patients of Group B(Rh negative and Rh positive) received 250 mug anti-D in a 16% gammaglobulin solution intra-muscularly 48 hours postpartum and the rubella vaccination 3 days later. Three weeks following the rubella vaccination the mean geometric rubella antibody titre had risen +/- 1 Standard deviation to 19.6 +/- 7.7 in Group A (17 patients) and to 18.0 +/- 6.3 in Group B (12 patients). Six weeks following the rubella vaccinations Group A (19 patients) showed titres of 61.7 +/- 2.9 and Group B (14 patients) showed titres of 70.0 +/- 2.6. There was no statistically significant difference (greater than 0.5). The conversion rate in both groups was 100%. Patients can therefore be vaccinated against rubella in the postpartum period even though they will receive a concomitant prophylaxis with Rh immunoglobulin.