Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin
About Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin belongs to the class of medications called ‘immunising agents’ used to prevent rhesus disease. Rhesus factor type D (RhD) is a special characteristic of human red blood cells. People who carry the RhD factor are called RhD positive, and those who don’t carry the RhD factor are called RhD negative. Rhesus disease occurs if there are mixed blood types of RhD-positive and RhD-negative. It can happen in the case of a pregnant woman when the mother is RhD negative, and the baby is RhD positive and people who have received mismatched transfusion ((RhD negative child or adult who have accidentally received RhD positive blood).
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin contains ‘Anti-D (Rh) immunoglobulin’, an immunising agent. Immunoglobulins or antibodies are essential to the immune response and help by protecting against viruses to prevent infection. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin works by neutralising the RhD-positive antigens that may have entered an RhD-negative person’s blood. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is not recommended for use in positive RhD patients and individuals already immunised to RhD antigen.
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is available as an injection and given by a healthcare professional. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin may cause side effects such as pain and tenderness at the injection site. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, if any of these side effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor immediately.
It is not recommended to take Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin if you are allergic to human immunoglobulin or other ingredients. Before taking Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin, inform your doctor if you had vaccination recently within the last 2 to 4 weeks, have blood clotting problems, or have thrombocytopenia (decreased number of platelets in the blood). Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is intended for use in pregnant women and is probably safe for breastfeeding mothers. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin may not interact with alcohol and may not affect your driving ability.
Uses of Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin
Medicinal Benefits
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin contains 'Anti-D (Rh) immunoglobulin', which is used to prevent rhesus disease. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is recommended for use in RhD-negative women who are carrying, just delivered, or have lost an RhD-positive baby. It is also recommended for RhD-negative women carrying RhD-positive babies if the pregnant woman has a severely complicated pregnancy, if the baby's RhD-positive blood passes into the mother's blood circulation, if the doctor needs to perform testing methods to identify fetal deformities, if the doctor is trying to move the baby from outside, or if the mother experiences abdominal trauma (injury to gut or stomach). Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is also administered during the third trimester of pregnancy if the pregnant woman's blood type is RhD negative. This is called routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is also given to people who had mismatched transfusions (RhD-negative child or adult who have accidentally received RhD-positive blood).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin
- Pain at the injection site
- Tenderness
- Fever
- Headache
Drug Warnings
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is given to prevent rhesus disease in RhD-negative women after delivery of an RhD-positive child, so it is always given to the mother and not to the newborn. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is not recommended for use in RhD positive persons and individuals already immunized to RhD antigen. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin may cause allergic reactions such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or shock, even if you have previously received human immunoglobulin and tolerated it well. In such cases, inform your doctor immediately. After a mismatched transfusion, the doctor may give you this medicine in large amounts in people given the Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin. In such cases, the doctor may monitor closely and do blood tests as there is a chance of hemolytic reaction (destruction of foreign RhD-positive red blood cells).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin may interact with the vaccine taken against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and the vaccine taken against chickenpox (varicella), making them less effective. So, these vaccines should be delayed for at least three months after taking Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin should be used with caution in people with clotting disorders, thrombocytopenia (reduced number of platelets) and with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency (IgA is a type of antibody that protects against infections).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin may not interact with alcohol. However, You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin is probably safe as it is intended for use in pregnancy or early after delivery. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Breast Feeding
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin is probably safe when used in breastfeeding mothers. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Driving
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin may not affect your ability to drive.
Liver
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin is probably safe when used in patients with liver diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Kidney
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin is probably safe when used in patients with kidney diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Children
safe if prescribedAnti Rh D Immunoglobulin can be given to children if clinically needed.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Undergo blood tests as recommended by the doctor during the pregnancy. It helps to determine whether you are Rh-positive or negative.
- Consume a healthy diet.
- Avoid alcohol and quit smoking during pregnancy, as it may lead to complications.
- Take your medicines regularly as prescribed by your doctor.
Special Advise
- Inform your doctor if you have recently been vaccinated or planned to get vaccinated, especially MMR and varicella, as Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin can make these vaccines less effective. Also, do not take live vaccines within three months after taking Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin.
- The patient should be observed for 20 minutes after the injection to exclude any allergic reaction development.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Rhesus disease: Rhesus factor type D (RhD) is a special characteristic of human red blood cells. People who carry the RhD factor are called RhD positive, and those who don’t carry the RhD factor are called RhD negative. Rhesus disease occurs if there is a mix of blood types of RhD-positive and RhD-negative. It can occur in the case of a pregnant woman when the mother is RhD negative, and the baby is RhD positive and people who have received mismatched transfusion ((RhD negative child or adult who have accidentally received RhD positive blood). Symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), pale complexion or pallor, increased heart rate, fast breathing, decreased energy levels and a large abdomen. If this condition is left untreated, it may lead to stillbirth, brain damage, blindness or learning difficulties.
FAQs
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin contains ‘Anti-D (Rh) immunoglobulin’ which is an immunizing agent. Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin works by neutralizing the RhD positive antigens that may have entered an RhD negative person’s blood.
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is recommended for all pregnant women who are RhD negative if you haven’t been sensitized (already have antibodies against RhD antigen) to RhD antigen. It doesn’t offer life-long protection against rhesus disease, so Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is given every time you get pregnant if you are not sensitized.
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin may cause side-effects such as pain and tenderness at the injection site. These side-effects are usually mild and temporary. However, if any of these side-effects persist or get worse, inform your doctor immediately.
Anti Rh D Immunoglobulin is not recommended in people who are allergic to human immunoglobulin, had vaccination (live vaccines) recently in the last 2 to 4 weeks, and had already sensitized (already have antibodies against RhD antigen).
Rhesus disease occurs if there is a mix of blood types of RhD positive and RhD negative. Rhesus factor type D (RhD) is a special characteristic of the human red blood cells. If the people carry the RhD factor, they are called RhD positive, and those who don’t carry the RhD factor are called the RhD negative. This disease can occur in the case of a pregnant woman when the mother is RhD negative and the baby is RhD positive and people who have received mismatched transfusion (RhD negative child or adult who have accidentally received RhD positive blood).
