What are the main current and future challenges in the fight against Rh disease? We discussed it with some of the leading international experts at the Birth 2023 Congress – Clinical Challenges of Labor and Delivery, held in Dubai from 14 to 16 December.
KOLs highlighted how in developing countries educational awareness, availability to treatments and blood testing to pregnant women are essential to eradicate Rh disease.
In this context the identification of Rh Status is the first step in supporting maternal healthcare, it enables early detection of Rh incompatibility, facilitates timely preventive measures, and supports ongoing monitoring and management throughout pregnancy. This proactive approach significantly reduces the incidence and impact of Rh disease on newborns.
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This year marks 55 years since the discovery of Anti-D Immunoglobulins for the prevention of Rh sensitization. A condition which, in women with Rh negative blood group, can lead to Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN).
Since then, many steps forward have been made. Today, in the most developed countries, cases of HDFN are very rare thanks to a standard prenatal protocol which involves the screening of all expectant mothers and the possible administration of prophylaxis.
This is not the case in the rest of the world, where even today half of the female population at risk of HDFN does not have access to prophylaxis.
For this reason, Kedrion continues its commitment in the field of maternal-fetal health, alongside academics, healthcare professionals and distributors, to improve knowledge of HDFN and expand access to this therapy to every woman in the world who need it.
If we want to achieve this target, every stakeholder that is involved in the fight against Rh should contribute.
