I am 24. Why is my ICT positive after an anti-D injection?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 24-year-old female. I have undergone two medical abortions, one at the age of 22 and at 24. I have a Rh-negative blood group. I was not given an anti-D injection the first time, but I was given one the second time. The doctor suggested an ICT test, and it came back positive, which means there are antibodies in my body. Could you please tell me how this could impact my future pregnancy? I am very worried.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Rh-negative pregnancy occurs when there is a negative blood group in the mother and a positive in the unborn child. The attacking agents, called antibodies, are produced by the mother, which crosses the placenta and attacks the child. Usually, the first pregnancy is spared, and from the second, it becomes active. Anti-D injections prevent this and should be given after every childbirth or abortion.

Once you are pregnant, from 16 weeks onwards, start checking the ICT (Indirect Coombs test) levels every month. When this crosses one in four tiers, you must get an ultrasound of the blood flow to the child's brain. If this condition gets severe, there is a provision for transfusion of blood inside the womb in big centers. So, do not worry. With good advancements in technology, the prognosis is good.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out in case of further queries.

Thank you.