In , Cummins was 29 and pregnant with her third Rh-positive child but had not yet become sensitized. She had read in the newspaper about the new treatment, which was to be released on June 1. However, her due date was May If she delivered on time, she would miss the chance to use the drug by one day. He leaned on those friends, who in turn lobbied the Division of Biologics Standards the forerunner of the FDA , which then approved this type of new drug.
She would go on to have another child, but this time with a newfound peace of mind. It is one thing to invent a cure; getting that cure into the hands of mothers in poor countries is another challenge. This organization seeks to extinguish Rh disease worldwide by increasing access to and affordability of RhIg.
RhIg is an injectable drug given to pregnant people with Rh-negative blood during pregnancy. A simple blood test can determine your blood type and Rh status. This test usually happens during your first prenatal care visit. This is called Rh incompatibility, or Rh disease. The Rh factor is a protein that can be found on the surface of red blood cells. If you have this protein, you're Rh-positive. While the pregnant person and fetus's blood systems are separate, there are times when the blood from the fetus can enter the mother's bloodstream.
If the pregnant person is Rh-negative, their immune system treats Rh-positive fetal cells as an attack and responds by making antibodies to destroy them. This response is called Rh sensitization. The antibodies in an Rh-sensitized pregnant person can cross the placenta and attack the fetus's Rh-positive blood.
These antibodies can break down and destroy the fetus's red blood cells hemolysis , leading to anemia. This condition is called hemolytic disease or hemolytic anemia. An Rh-negative pregnant person will receive RhoGAM at several points throughout pregnancy when the Rh factor of the biological father is positive or unknown. These include:. A dose of RhoGAM also may be needed:. At any time during your pregnancy, notify your healthcare provider immediately if you have vaginal bleeding or experience any abdominal trauma.
You may need an additional dose of RhoGAM. Soon after you give birth, your baby's blood will be tested for the blood type and Rh type.
All medications carry the risk of some side effects. The most common adverse reactions of RhoGAM include:. The benefits were immediate. The first person to receive the approved drug—Marianne Cummins—received the injection just hours after it became available. Cummins, her husband, and her physician, David Landers, MD, were also present in February to tell her story. In , Ms.
Cummins was 29 and pregnant with her third Rh-positive child but had not become sensitized. RhoGAM prevents sensitization—as long as it is administered within 72 hours after delivery.
She had read in the newspaper about the new treatment, which was to be released on June 1. However, her due date was May If she delivered on time, she would miss the chance to use the drug by one day. Cummins became the first person to receive RhoGAM. Today, RhoGam is routinely given in the early, third trimester of pregnancy and at delivery if the baby is Rh positive to Rh negative women.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn, which formerly claimed the lives of ten thousand babies each year in the United States, has now been virtually eliminated in the developed world. Fortunately, if isoimmunization antibody formation does occur, these pregnancies can, for the most part, be managed with modern treatment options to promote successful outcomes.
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