Alloimmune Disorders of Pregnancy: Anaemia, Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia in the Fetus and Newborn

by Andrew Hadley, Peter Soothill

Overview

The effective prevention, diagnosis, and management of alloimmune cytopenias has become a team effort involving hematologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, immunologists, laboratory technicians, midwives, and research scientists. This book has been written by experts in their respective fields to bring together the issues of pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and clinical management. This comprehensive but accessible account is extensively cross-referenced to emphasize the links between pathogenesis and clinical sequels, between epidemiology and the rationale for screening programs, and between diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521781206
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/06/2001
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	7.09(w) x 10.08(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Dr Andrew Hadley is Division Manager at the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory, and Senior Scientist at the Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, University of Bristol.

Professor Peter Soothill is Professor of Maternal and Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital and University of Bristol.

Table of Contents

Preface Andrew G. Hadley and Peter Soothill; 1. Pathophysiology of the alloimmune cytopenias Andrew G. Hadley and Craig Turner; 2. Blood group antibodies in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn Geoff Daniels; 3. Basis and practice of screening for haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn Geoff Poole; 4. Epidemiology and screening for alloimmune thrombocytopenia Lorna M. Williamson and Michael F. Murphy; 5. Principles of antibody-mediated immune suppression and the prevention of maternal Rh(D) alloimmunisation Belinda Kumpel; 6. The clinical application of anti-D prophylaxis Stan Urbaniak; 7. Fetal genotyping Neil D. Avent; 8. Laboratory assays to determine the severity of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn Andrew G Hadley; 9. Assessing the severity of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: clinical aspects Sherif Abdel-Fattah and Peter Soothill; 10. Antenatal therapy for haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn Kenneth J. Moise and Paul W. Whitecar; 11. Neonatal therapy for haemolytic disease of the newborn Glynn Russell and Nic Goulden; 12. The diagnosis of alloimmune thrombocytopenia Andrew Hadley; 13. The diagnosis of alloimmune neutropenia Geoff Lucas; 14. Fetal and neonatal treatment of alloimmune thrombocytopenia Michael Murphy, Rachel Rayment, David Allen and David Roberts; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This book serves as an excellent update on the comprehensive management of alloimmune disorders of pregnancy. It is an excellent source..." Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science

"[V]ery useful in understanding the mechanisms of the alloimmune response...I do not know of any other book that covers this topic." Doody's Review Service G

"This book will serve as a useful resource for the many participants in multidisciplinary teams that manage alloimmune disorders in pregnancy. It should serve to enhance communication and coordination among investigators and clinical specialists in each of the contributing fields, thus achieving the editors' goals." The New England Journal of Medicine

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Lisa Boggio, MS, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This is a very comprehensive discussion of alloimmune disorders that occur in pregnancy. Considering that pregnancy is the most common way alloantibodies are acquired and have a significant affect on morbidity and mortality, there have been few publications which highlight and inform on this topic.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a comprehensive, but clear, discussion of the alloimmune disorders of pregnancy which can be used and referenced by trainees and physicians who specialize in blood banking, obstetrics, fetal-maternal medicine, pediatrics, and immunology. There are few complete references on this topic and it is often overlooked. This is a clearly written overview that achieves the authors' goals and is sorely needed.
Audience: This book is written for students, technicians and practitioners in the fields of pediatrics, obstetrics, fetal-maternal medicine, blood banking, and immunology. It is a difficult task to provide a comprehensive discussion of a topic to such a wide variety of readers, but the authors manage to do so without making the book too simplistic for the more knowledgeable reader, nor too technical for the student. The authors are credible authorities on the topic.
Features: This is a very comprehensive discussion of alloimmune disorders in pregnancy. Since these are formed through the comingling of fetal and maternal blood at the placenta, the authors begin with a basic discussion of blood groups and alloimmunity responses and then expand to discussions of specific disorders. The reason that this book is so needed is that these complications are often overlooked and little is done to prevent them from happening. This book provides a forum for thought and evaluation of these alloimmune disorders. The figures add to the understanding of an often confusing topic and it is actually very easy to read. Since it caters to those with wide variations in knowledge, some areas may be too simple for the experienced clinician, and some are too complex for the student. However, those areas are few and this has really enhanced and expanded my understanding of this topic.
Assessment: I found this book very useful in understanding the mechanisms of the alloimmune response and I learned new ways to diagnose and prevent these complications. I do not know of any other book that covers this topic.

Doody's Review Service