Background: Few data are available on the affinity of maternal anti-D responsible for hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn (HDN) and of anti-D used for the prophylaxis of that disease. A method was recently described to measure the affinity (K(a)) of untagged anti-D monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). In this work, the same method was applied to determine the K(a) of polyclonal anti-D.
Study design and methods: O R(1)r red blood cells (RBCs) were sensitized with increasing concentrations of native anti-D in serum samples from immunized mothers and donors and in RhIG preparations. At equilibrium, the amount of anti-D bound to RBCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Scatchard and Langmuir equations were used to determine Ka.
Results: The experimental data fitted well with the Scatchard equation (mean r2=0.95) but a better correlation was observed with the Langmuir equation (mean r2=0.99). The mean Ka of anti-D in 11 maternal serum samples, in 6 immunized donors, and in 5 lots of RhIG were 5.6x10(8) per M (from 2.8x10(8) to 12x10(8)/M), 3.9x10(8) per M (from 1.5x10(8) to 6.8x10(8)/M), and 3.4x10(8) per M (from 3.1x10(8) to 4.2x10(8)/M), respectively. The comparison of anti-D affinity in 5 cases of HDN with fetal anemia and in 6 cases of HDN with postnatal anemia showed no significant difference.
Conclusion: The method previously described for anti-D MoAbs was applied to polyclonal anti-D present in the serum of immunized subjects and in immunoglobulin preparations. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir equation, and the affinity of polyclonal of anti-D was measured with accuracy.