PCR-based determination of Rhc and RhE status of fetuses at risk of Rhc and RhE haemolytic disease.

After anti-RhD, anti-Rhc is the most important red cell alloantibody which can cause haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) when the mother is Rhc-negative and the fetus Rhc-positive. We report here the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays which detect the presence of the Rhc alleles in amniotic cells by the use of allele-specific primers (ASP). It is expected that such determination will help in the management of pregnancies at risk of Rhc haemolytic disease. In the course of this study we have similarly performed PCR-ASP experiments to detect fetal RHE alleles since, in rare cases, anti-RhE can also cause HDN.