A single recombinant anti-RhD IgG prevents RhD immunization: association of RhD-positive red blood cell clearance rate with polymorphisms in the Fc RIIA and Fc IIIA genes

A single recombinant immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) anti-RhD antibody (MonoRho) was compared with a currently used polyclonal anti-RhD product (Rhophylac) in a phase 1 study for safety, efficacy of Rhesus D (RhD)–positive red blood cell (RBC) clearance, and prevention of RhD immunization in RhD-negative men challenged with 15 mL RhD-positive RBCs. Both the polyclonal product and recombinant antiRhD effectively cleared RhD-positive RBCs after intravenous and intramuscular injection. The recombinant anti-RhD demonstrated a slower clearance rate compared with the polyclonal anti-RhD. There was no dose response, and there was considerable variation among subjects who received the same dose of recombinant anti-RhD. Interestingly, RhDpositive RBC clearance rates were strongly associated with Fc receptor IIA (Fc RIIA) and Fc IIIA but not with Fc IIIB polymorphisms. Subjects homozygous for Fc RIIA-131H or Fc RIIIA-158V allotypes showed a faster clearance rate compared with both the heterozygote and the corresponding alternative homozygote allotypes. A similar but less marked trend was seen for the polyclonal anti-RhD. Despite the variation in clearance rates there was no evidence of anti-RhD alloantibodies in any of the subjects at 6 months after the RBC challenge. (Blood. 2004;103:4028-4035)