RH hemolytic disease. Epidemiologic surveillance in the United States, 1968 to 1975

Nationwide surveillance of Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn showed that associated infant mortality decreased from 941 deaths in 1968 to 269 deaths in 1975, or from 2.7 to 0.9 per 10,000 live births. The incidence of Rh hemolytic disease declined from 45 per 10,000 total births in 1970 to 21 per 10,000 in 1975. In 1970, an estimated 16,000 infants were affected, whereas in 1975, the number was 6,000. Several state-based Rh disease surveillance programs reported declining mortality and incidence and increasing use of Rh immune globulin. Rh immune globulin was administered to an estimated 80% of eligible Rh-negative women in 1974, eighty-one percent in 1975, and 82% in 1976. More concerted efforts are needed to determine the frequency of maternal sensitization and to identify and correct gaps in postpartum and postabortion use of Rh immune globulin. (JAMA242:1376-1379, 1979)