Do I need an anti-d injection?

[Alice_T]

Dear Doctor,

My blood type is B negative. My partner has a positive blood type. I recently learnt that I would need anti-d injections throughout any future pregnancy, or any future miscarriages.

My question is do I need an anti-d injection if my partner's positive blood accidentally gets onto an open wound of mine and enters my blood stream? This happened today, and although I am not currently pregnant, I am worried this will have some negative effect on a future pregnancy and cause my blood to become sensitised and produce antibodies which will harm any baby I carry down the road. I can't find any information about this kind of scenario on the internet as any info online to do with anti-d injections relates directly to pregnancy...

I'd really appreciate if a doctor could please explain to me IF/and when anti-d is needed at any time outside of pregnancy.

Thank you!!

[Alice_T]

Dear Dr Mathur,

Thank you for your quick and detailed reply. I unfortunately did not receive any notification that you had written to me so my thank you is a bit delayed - my apologies.

You said a large amount of my husband's blood would have to enter my bloodstream by mistake to cause an effect. How much blood? Is a few drops of his blood dropping onto a wound of mine enough? Or are you talking about a far larger quantity than a few drops?

It is better to be pre-cautious and have an anti-d injection anyway? how unlikely is it that a few drops will have any effect?

Once again thank you for taking the time to explain this to me and put my mind at ease :).

Take care

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
I can appreciate your worries. If some amount of your husband’s blood entered your blood stream by mistake, then it is unlikely to cause any reaction as such unless a large amount of blood entered the blood stream.
When there is Rh incompatibility, an atypical antibody called Anti-D antibody usually develops in response to it and is the cause of miscarriage. If both you and baby's father have same blood Rh type (either positive or negative), then chances of any antibody formation is less. When mother is Rh negative and father is Rh positive—with the result that the baby can be Rh positive. The first baby usually is spared as the antibodies develop slowly. Thereafter the anti-D antibodies stay for life and cause miscarriage if the baby in womb is Rh positive. Rh –ve babies are spared. Hence anti-Rh antibody Injections are given to suppress this immune response after first miscarriage or childbirth to prevent subsequent miscarriages. After the first baby is spared, subsequent full-term pregnancies are then possible even with Rh +ve babies.
In your case, you would probably need the injection with the first pregnancy. Please let your Obs and Gyn know about this when you plan a baby. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.