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Full-term infant
Volume 56 Number
SELECTED
2
parents and the erythroblastotic infant of Rh antigen, the cause for erythroblastosis
403
ABSTRACTS
were
alike in this
in blood groups case was obscure
and in the common types at first. IRVINQ L. FRANK.
Fetalis: I. ActivaWitebsky, E., Rubin, M. I., and Blum, L.: Studies in Erythroblastosis tion of the Incomplete Rh Antibody by the Blood Serum of Full Term and Premature Newborn Infants, J. Lab. t Clin. Med. 32: 1330,1947. The authors discuss the properties of the ‘ Lblocking” or L‘incomplete antibody” which requires albumin solution or undiluted serum as a diluent, rather than saline solution to activate its agglutination properties. By the use of sera from premature infants, full-term infants, and infants during the neonatal period, they have demonstrated a maturation of the capacity to activate this antibody. This property varies considerably, but in general is weak in serum of any infant in comparison to adult serum, and apparently is absent in the fetus until full term approaches. They discuss the clinical implications of this phenomenon and emphasize the danger of exposing the cells of an erythroblastic infant to adult serum and the advantage of replacing the infants cells with exchange transfusion. They also suggest that this phenomenon of gradual maturation of the activating principle may lend some S. B. GUSBERG. support to the proponents of premature delivery in erythroblastosis fetalis.
Witebsky, E., Rubin, M. I., Engasser, L. M., and Blum, L.: Studies in Erythroblastosis Fetalis: II. Investigations on the Detection of Sensitization of the Red Blood Cells of Newborn Infants With Erythroblastosis Fetalis, J. Lab. & Clin. Med. 32: 1339,1947. This group of investigators discuss the importance of early laboratory support for the clinical diagnosis of erythroblastosis. In view of the fact that many clinically erythroblastotic infants show few or no free antibodies in their cord serum, the need for a test to determine sensitization of the child’s red cells is evident. The authors propose a slide test for detection of such sensitization, which simply requires the addition of a drop of normal adult serum to several drops of the infant’s packed washed red cells; adult serum has the capacity to activate agglutination in these sensitized cells. Experimental work demonstrating these phenomena is presented, and their clinical significance discussed. The authors re-emphasize the theoretical danger of adult serum when transfused into an erythroblastotic child. 5. B. GUSBERG.
McBurney,
Raymond:
Full-Term
Infant,
West.
J. Surg.
55: 363,1947.
The California State Board of Health requires that all babies weighing 5 lb. 8 oz. or less be reported as premature. Evidence is presented to show that the birth weight is not necessarily indicative of the state of prematurity of the newborn; approximately 1 per cent of 6,641 babies born at term weighed 5 lb. 8 oz. or less. These babies are not premature but undernourished. The undernourishment may be the result of insufficient food supply to the fetus because of the small placenta, infarcts of the placenta, toxemias of pregnancy, or partial separation of the placenta. The mortality rate in this series of babies, designated as premature according to the law, was no higher than in any series of normal newborn babies. It is concluded by the author that birth weight alone is not sufficient indication of prematurity. S. B. GUSBERG.
SELECTED
2
parents and the erythroblastotic infant of Rh antigen, the cause for erythroblastosis
403
ABSTRACTS
were
alike in this
in blood groups case was obscure
and in the common types at first. IRVINQ L. FRANK.
Fetalis: I. ActivaWitebsky, E., Rubin, M. I., and Blum, L.: Studies in Erythroblastosis tion of the Incomplete Rh Antibody by the Blood Serum of Full Term and Premature Newborn Infants, J. Lab. t Clin. Med. 32: 1330,1947. The authors discuss the properties of the ‘ Lblocking” or L‘incomplete antibody” which requires albumin solution or undiluted serum as a diluent, rather than saline solution to activate its agglutination properties. By the use of sera from premature infants, full-term infants, and infants during the neonatal period, they have demonstrated a maturation of the capacity to activate this antibody. This property varies considerably, but in general is weak in serum of any infant in comparison to adult serum, and apparently is absent in the fetus until full term approaches. They discuss the clinical implications of this phenomenon and emphasize the danger of exposing the cells of an erythroblastic infant to adult serum and the advantage of replacing the infants cells with exchange transfusion. They also suggest that this phenomenon of gradual maturation of the activating principle may lend some S. B. GUSBERG. support to the proponents of premature delivery in erythroblastosis fetalis.
Witebsky, E., Rubin, M. I., Engasser, L. M., and Blum, L.: Studies in Erythroblastosis Fetalis: II. Investigations on the Detection of Sensitization of the Red Blood Cells of Newborn Infants With Erythroblastosis Fetalis, J. Lab. & Clin. Med. 32: 1339,1947. This group of investigators discuss the importance of early laboratory support for the clinical diagnosis of erythroblastosis. In view of the fact that many clinically erythroblastotic infants show few or no free antibodies in their cord serum, the need for a test to determine sensitization of the child’s red cells is evident. The authors propose a slide test for detection of such sensitization, which simply requires the addition of a drop of normal adult serum to several drops of the infant’s packed washed red cells; adult serum has the capacity to activate agglutination in these sensitized cells. Experimental work demonstrating these phenomena is presented, and their clinical significance discussed. The authors re-emphasize the theoretical danger of adult serum when transfused into an erythroblastotic child. 5. B. GUSBERG.
McBurney,
Raymond:
Full-Term
Infant,
West.
J. Surg.
55: 363,1947.
The California State Board of Health requires that all babies weighing 5 lb. 8 oz. or less be reported as premature. Evidence is presented to show that the birth weight is not necessarily indicative of the state of prematurity of the newborn; approximately 1 per cent of 6,641 babies born at term weighed 5 lb. 8 oz. or less. These babies are not premature but undernourished. The undernourishment may be the result of insufficient food supply to the fetus because of the small placenta, infarcts of the placenta, toxemias of pregnancy, or partial separation of the placenta. The mortality rate in this series of babies, designated as premature according to the law, was no higher than in any series of normal newborn babies. It is concluded by the author that birth weight alone is not sufficient indication of prematurity. S. B. GUSBERG.