THE CONTINUING BURDEN OF Rh DISEASE 50 YEARS AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF ANTI-Rh (D) immunoglobULin prophylaxis

50 years after the introduction of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulin prophylaxis the ongoing, worldwide, burden of Rh disease has only been reduced by ~50 percent.

160.000 perinatal deaths and 100.000 disabilities annually. This apparent failure to take appropriate preventive measures is of great concern. Thus, there is a great need to do much better. We wish to draw attention to the unnecessary, continuing burden of Rh disease, to discuss some of the reasons for this failure, and to provide suggestions for a better way forward.