Rhesus incompatibility and a survey of the care of rhesus negative pregnant women in one general practice.

I review some of the literature and developments in research concerning rhesus immunization and report on a small survey, carried out in a group practice with a list size of about 12,000, of women who were delivered during the first 10 months of 1977. There were 106 deliveries (including one set of twins), and 16 rhesus negative mothers (one of whom had the twins). Of 17 infants delivered to these mothers, eight were rhesus negative, seven rhesus positive, and two were not grouped. None of the mothers developed antibodies and all the rhesus negative mothers at risk received anti-D. However, the survey shows discrepancies between hospital and practice records and recommendations to improve this are suggested.