Navigating the American medical system is not new to a clinician like Katie, but experiencing it as a rare disease patient is a different story entirely. This week Bethany and Molly interview Allo Hope Foundation’s Director of Development, Katie Shanahan, a nurse practitioner who became sensitized after not receiving Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG, sometimes called RHOGAM). Her alloimmunization progressed rapidly as her son developed significant HDFN in her first alloimmunized pregnancy. Katie shares stories of IUTs and NICU life in such a relatable and informative way. Also, the women discuss the process of in vitro fertilization and how preimplantation genetic diagnosis can make Katie’s next pregnancy a very different experience. 

Show Themes:

• Low titer progressing to severe disease
• First alloimmunized pregnancy
• IUT protocols and timing
• NICU experience 
• Grief and trauma
• Reflecting on daily life after an alloimmunized pregnancy
• In vitro fertilization (IVF) using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to have an antigen negative baby

Reference

• Study about missed Rhogam https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577821000368
• More information about cffDNA testing through the Unity Screen https://unityscreen.com/conditions-fetal-antigens/ or Sanquin Laboratories https://www.sanquin.org/products-and-services/diagnostics/non-invasive-fetal-blood-group-genotyping 
• Fetal outcomes are improved if IUTs are conducted before signs of hydrops https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002937801313728 
• Use of erythropoietin (EPO) in newborns with HDFN review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378378211002337 and ongoing clinical trial https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A3284942/download

Research for this episode provided by Bethany Weathersby and Molly Sherwood of the Allo Hope Foundation. Find more information at https://allohopefoundation.org

The Allo Podcast is produced and edited by Media Club