Changes in size of red cells during normal pregnancy

SELECTED

11x0

ARSTRACTS

.\m.

1. Obst.

& Gym.

November.

195 1

Pregnancy, Physiology of Capillary Fragility SUreaU, M., Gaunelle, EL, and Francois, A.: Modifications Time of Delivery, Bull. Assoc. d. gym%. et ohst. de langue franc;. 2: 248, 1950.

at the

The authors working at Maternity Hospital de la Pitie, Paris, studied the comparable vascular ( ‘ resistance ’ ’ in a series of 113 pregnant A pressure cuff, the women. Lavollay apparatus, was applied to the forearm under a pressure of 40 cm. of mercury for 30 seconds. The number of petechiae were counted. The intensity of reaction was placed arbitrarily into 4 categories : 0, no petechiae; X, 0 to 5 petechiae; XX, 5 to 15 petechiae; and XXX, more than 15 petechiae. The women were test,ed at the eighth month of pregnancy, during labor but before delivery, and eight months after delivery. In category 0, at the eighth month of pregnancy, were 29 women (25.6 per cent) ; in category X 48 women (42.4 per cent) ; in category XX I7 women i 13 per cent) ; and in category XXX 19 women (16.8 per cent). In category 6, at the time of labor but before delivery, mere 15 women .(13.2 per cent) ; in X 27 women (23.8 per cent) ; in XX, 42 women (37.1 per cent) ; and in XXX, 29 women (25.6 per cent). Eight months after delivery the figures show the following categorical distribution: 0, 28 women (24.7 per cent) ; X, 52 women (46.0 per cent) ; XX, 19 women (16.8 per cent); and XXX, 14 women (12.3 per cent). The writers conclude there was a noticeable tendency toward the increase of capillary fragility during labor, and before delivery, which receded rapidly after delivery. They are planning further studies of this phenomenon throughout the duration of pregnancy. Two figures and tIvo tables accompany the article. CLAIR E. FOLSOME

Arnold, Barbara J., Walsh, R. J., and Herzger, Ruth: A Study of the Significance Antibody Titration During Pregnancy, M. J. Australia, p. 301, Feb. 24, 1951. The authors feel tion between the titer is of no value if the sibln from the results fall in titer is nearly disease of the newborn, ternal agglutinins.

of Rh

that in view of the general agreement there is little, if any, correlaof agglutinins, and the severity of the disease in the fetus. Titration agglutinins have appeared during the current pregnancy. It is imposof titration to predict an Rh-negative child with certainty. A rise or always associated with an Rh-positive fetus who suffered from hemolytic hut the majority of affected infants produced no change in the maWILLIAM

Merivale, W. H. II., and Richardson, G. 0.: Pregnancy, Rrit,. M. .J. 1: 463, 1950.

Changes in Size of Red Cells During

BERMAN

Normal

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possibility that women called on to provide extra antianemic factor during pregnancy might show a relative deficiency, producing measurable changes in the size or other features of the erythrocytes. Sixteen healthy pregnant women were studied at various stages of pregnancy. The red cell counts remained normal, and there were no significant differences in mean corpuscular volume or in mean corpuscular diameter. The latt,er, however, showed statistically important variations from month to mont,h. Thus the mean corpuscular diameter varies over a much widor range than in a nonpregnant individual. The authors feel that there is a definite tendency to increased anisocytosis in pregnancy even though the hemoglobin, red cell couut, and mean corpuscular volume are normal. JOHN T. COLE

Dunsford, l)uriug gbninin scribed

I.: Agglutinin

Anti-P

in Pregnancy,

There arc’ a few referoncos in routine investigat,ions at the anti-I’ was discovcrctl in the in detail; both women bore

Brit.

M. J. 1: 15, 1949.

the literature t,o immune or naturally occurring anti-P. National 13lood Transfusion Service, Sheffield, the agsera of two pregnant women. These two cases are denormal infants. The investigations carried out suggest