Doppler Ultrasonography versus Amniocentesis to Predict Fetal Anemia

ABSTRACT When red blood cell alloimmunization takes place during pregnancy, the fetus is at risk of hemolytic anemia, which may lead to hydrops and death as early as 17 weeks gestation. Timely diagnosis and blood transfusions may, however, result in survival rates higher than 90%. Until now, these pregnancies have been monitored by serial amniocentesis to estimate bilirubin levels expressed as the change in optical density at a wavelength of …