In this study, we assessed the feasibility of fetal RhD genotyping by analysis of cell-free fetal DNA(cffDNA) extracted from plasma samples of Rhesus (Rh) D-negative pregnant women by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fetal genotyping was performed on 30 RhD-negative women between 9 and 39 weeks of gestation who were referred to us for invasive testing [amniocentesis/chorionic vi...

he RHD gene is responsible for the expression of the D antigen hile RHCE encodes proteins carrying antigens C or c, and E r e. RHD is present or absent depending on the RH haplotype, nd RHCE displays four common alleles (ce, Ce, cE, CE) responible for the expression of the two antithetical (allelic) series f antigens. RHD gene deletion is the leading cause of the Dhenotype worldwide.1 Functiona...

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study is to investigate women's preferences and information needs for routine implementation of fetal Rhesus D (RhD) typing using cell-free fetal DNA. METHODS A questionnaire was developed following focus groups and interviews with both health professionals and RhD negative (RhD-) women offered fetal RhD genotyping within a research study and distributed to RhD- wom...

Maternal RhD alloimmunization is an inflammatory response against protein antigens in fetal red blood cells (RBC). However, not all women become alloimmunized when exposed to RhD+ fetal RBC. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate levels of inflammatory chemokines in RhD- pregnant women with erythrocyte alloimmunization. CXCL8, CXCL9, CCL5, and CXCL10 levels were determined from cell culture superna...

BACKGROUND Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic valvular heart disease (RHD) remain important medical, surgical and public health concerns in many parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there are no published data from Rwanda. We performed a RHD prevalence study in a randomly selected sample of Rwandan school children using the 2012 World Heart Federation (WHF) criteria. ...

BACKGROUND The incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has waned in Western countries, however that is not the situation in developing nations. METHODS Records were reviewed of patients from the Eastern Cape municipal districts who presented to the Paediatric Cardiology Unit with ARF and RHD from January 2008 to August 2015. RESULTS Total of 56 patients wi...

BACKGROUND Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a disease of international importance, yet little has been published about disease progression in a contemporary patient cohort. Multi-state models provide a well-established method of estimating rates of transition between disease states, and can be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of potential interventions. We aimed to create a multi-st...

The second rheumatic heart disease (RHD) forum was held on February 18, 2013, at the Sixth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Cape Town, South Africa, to focus attention on key areas in global RHD control, management, and prevention. Building on the foundation of the first RHD forum, over 150 interested participants met to discuss critical issues on the RHD landscape....

BACKGROUND Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic cardiac condition with an infectious aetiology, causing high disease burden in low-income settings. Affected individuals are young and associated morbidity is high. However, RHD is relatively neglected due to the populations involved and its lower incidence relative to other heart diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS In this narrative review, we ...

This work aims to assess the value of a generalized molecular RHD screening strategy which could replace routine serological screening of weak D by indirect antiglobulin test. Three independent studies were performed at the two Blood Transfusion Services Berne and Zurich. Donors investigated were 652 RhD negative, but RhC and/or RhE positive, 17,391 mainly Rhccee, and 8200 with normal RhCcEe ph...