Anti-Rh17 (anti-Hr0): a rare diagnostic and management problem.

Of all blood group systems, anti Rh antibodies are the commonest cause of haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) and its diagnosis and management plan is well established. Also immunization with 'D' antigen can be effectively prevented by prophylactic use of anti-D Immunoglobulin. Therefore its prevalence has declined but now less common alloantibodies are frequently encountered posing different management problems. Anti Rh17 is also a rare alloantibody1 produced after immune stimulus, by individuals who lack C/c and E/e antigens of Rh blood group on their red cells. This rare blood group is designated as Dand was first described by Race and Sanger2 in 1950. We report diagnosis and management of a pregnant lady with anaemia, mitral valve disease and anti Rh17 alloantibody who required blood for operation and her baby suffered from hydrops foetalis.