Rh immunoglobulin use with placenta previa and abruptio placentae.

Patients with obstetric hemorrhage from placenta previa or abruptio placentae may be at increased risk of Rh sensitization because they fail to receive Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG) or are given an inadequate dose. To evaluate the use of RhIG in this clinical situation, we studied 498 patients with hemorrhage from placenta previa or abruptio placentae treated at a large municipal hospital from 1975 to 1979. All 25 RhIG candidates received the product before their discharge from the hospital. This rate of RhIG use was equal to that for patients whose infants were delivered without these complications and significantly higher than that for patients with spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy at the same hospital (P less than .05). Prompt administration of an adequate dose of RhIG to candidates with bleeding from placenta previa or abruptio placentae can further reduce Rh hemolytic disease.