Browsing by Author "Magesa, Pius Mwita"

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    The relationship between anaemia in pregnant women and a positive enzyme anti-human globulin test in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1978) Magesa, Pius Mwita
    The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the relationship between anaemia in pregnant women and a positive enzyme anti-human globulin test in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sixty pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the Muhimbili Medical Centre were screened for antibodies to red cells using a newly developed technique of enzyme anti-human globulin (coombs) test. Thirty normal male donors were used as controls. Enzyme antibodies were frequently detected in both the expectant women and the donors. Twenty-three of the thirty donors were positive for enzyme antibodies. Fourteen sera out of the twenty three positive sera from the pregnant women were further analysed for antibody specifically, immunoglobulin class, title at 370C and at 40C and complement binding properties. It was demonstrated that two sera had IgManti Le (a) specificity. Four sera had doubtful anti e specificity, the last three of the four sera had, in addition, doubtful anti PI specificity, and only the first of the four sera was classified as IgM and the immunoglobulin class of the other three sera was not determined. Seven sera contained non-specific antibodies; three of these sera were IgM in type. One serum sample contained complement binding IgG antibody. The antibody titres at 370C ranged from 2 to 32 and at 40C from 0 to 16, i.e., the antibodies occurred at low titres. Complement components (C3) were frequently detected bound onto the red cells but without causing haemolysis complement inactivation enhanced the activity of certain antibodies. There was no conclusive evidence that anaemia in pregnancy was associated with the enzyme antibodies. Similarly pregnancy per se did not appear to predispose expectant mothers to the development of those antibodies. There was no significant statistical difference between the means of haemoglobin of pregnant women with a positive EDAGI and those with a negative EDAGT on one hand and pregnant women with a positive EDAGT and those with a positive EIAGT on the other. Enzyme antibodies were, however, found to occur with increased frequency below 19 years of age and particularly among primiparas and in low parity women. The new technique was more sensitive in detecting incomplete antibodies than the conventional anti-human globulin (coombs) test. The significance of these findings is discussed and possible lines of future research suggested.