Which of the following patients would be a candidate for RhIg?

The selection of the correct candidate for Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) therapy often revolves around specific criteria that involve the Rh status of the mother and baby and the presence of anti-D antibodies. In the chosen case, an O-negative mother with an A-positive baby in her second pregnancy is recommended for RhIg because she is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive.

When an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive child, there is potential for Rh sensitization. This occurs when fetal Rh-positive red blood cells enter the maternal circulation, leading the mother’s immune system to produce anti-D antibodies. If this occurs, future pregnancies with Rh-positive children could be complicated by hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).

Rh immunoglobulin is administered to prevent this sensitization by neutralizing any Rh-positive fetal red blood cells that might enter the mother’s bloodstream during or after delivery. Since the mother in this scenario is in her second pregnancy and has no history of anti-D antibodies, she is a strong candidate for receiving RhIg to safeguard her current and future pregnancies.

In contrast, the other scenarios all represent conditions where the benefits of RhIg are not applicable: one involves a mother who is Rh-positive, meaning she does not require Rh