Pregnancy outcome in mothers who develop Kell antibodies.

This is a review of the obstetric histories of women with Kell antibodies who delivered between 1964 and 1983. The majority of women with Anti-Kell in their sera have Kell negative husbands and have been sensitised by blood transfusion. In only six mothers was antibody formation the result of isoimmunisation and all cases where the baby was known to be Kell positive ended in fetal death. Amniocentesis is not helpful in managing these cases, and at times might be misleading, so that other techniques, such as ultrasound, might be more helpful. A review of the literature confirms that Kell isoimmunisation is rare, but that when it does occur the outlook for the baby is poor.