Successful use of human normal immunoglobulin during pregnancy for the prevention of neonatal hemochromatosis
Pankratova O.A., Pribushenya O.V., Vasiliev S.A., Naumchik I.V., Kurlovich I.V., Lemeshevskaya T.V.
Background: Neonatal hemochromatosis refers to gestational alloimmune liver diseases (GALD), leads to neonatal death and has a high risk of recurrence in offspring. The disease is rare and there is limited clinical experience with the use of human immunoglobulins to prevent neonatal hemochromatosis.
Case report: The article presents a clinical observation of the successful use of human normal immunoglobulin during pregnancy in a woman with neonatal hemochromatosis, pathologically established in a previously deceased newborn. The dose of human normal immunoglobulin (1 g per 1 kg of body weight) for intravenous administration was calculated based on the patient’s body weight at 14–18 weeks gestation (50 g), and did not change with further weight gain. Taking into account the half-life of the drug, infusions were given every 14–21 days, which in total amounted to 7 administrations. The treatment continued until 35 weeks gestation and resulted in the birth of a healthy girl weighing 3150 g.
Conclusion: Timely initiation of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy at 14–18 weeks gestation, regular monitoring of immunological parameters and evaluation of the fetal liver using MRI made it possible to prolong pregnancy to full term and minimize the risk of fetal damage. The joint work of obstetricians, gynecologists, immunologists, hematologists, and international experts, as well as development of personalized treatment plans adapted to the patient’s needs and the administrative restrictions of the region, were the key factors in achieving a positive outcome.
Authors’ contributions: Pankratova O.A. – developing the design of the study, writing the text; Pribushenya O.V. – developing the concept of the study, editing the article; Naumchik I.V. – developing the concept of the study, collecting the clinical material; Vasiliev S.A. – developing the concept of the study, editing the article; Kurlovich I.V. – developing the design of the study, editing the article; Lemeshevskaya T.V. – collecting the clinical material.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Patient Consent for Publication: The patient signed an informed consent to the publication of her data.
For citation: Pankratova O.A., Pribushenya O.V., Vasiliev S.A., Naumchik I.V., Kurlovich I.V., Lemeshevskaya T.V. Successful use of human normal immunoglobulin during pregnancy for the prevention of neonatal hemochromatosis.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (3): 184-190 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.226
Keywords
neonatal hemochromatosis
gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD)
human normal immunoglobulin
pregnancy outcomes
in vitro fertilization
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Received 21.08.2025
Accepted 12.02.2026
About the Authors
Olga A. Pankratova, PhD, Head of the Department of Pregnancy Pathology No. 1, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and child», 220053, Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus, (37517)318-41-80, (37517)379-25-84 (Fax), o.pankratova777@gmail.com, eLibrary SPIN: 3574-4450, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8206-9513Oksana V. Pribushenya, Dr. Med. Sci., Head of the Scientific Laboratory for Medical Genetics, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and child»,
220053,. Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus, (37517)3792584, (37517)272-85-13 (Fax), +375296231255, pribushenya@yandex.ru, eLibrary SPIN: 2707-1880,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8186-2849
Sergey A. Vasiliev, PhD, Director, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and child», 220053, Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus, (37517)368-62-15,
(37517)379-25-84 (Fax), info@medcenter.by, eLibrary SPIN: 6964-5473, https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4250-787X
Irina V. Naumchik, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Scientific Laboratory for Medical Genetics, Republican Scientific and Practical Centre «Mother and Child»,
220053, Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus, (37517)3792584, (37517)272-85-13 (Fax), +375447321440, irinanaumchik@yandex.by, eLibrary SPIN: 7614-6792,
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0720-0003
Ivan V. Kurlovich, PhD, Deputy Director for Research, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and child», 220053, Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus,
(37517)300-29-71, (37517) 379-25-84 (Fax), zamdir.nr@medcenter.by, eLibrary SPIN: 6719-1403, https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7384-8460
Tatyana V. Lemeshevskaya, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and child», 220053, Orlovskaya str., 66, Minsk, Belarus, (37517)275-41-76, (37517)379-25-84 (Fax), +375291979065, tv.lemeshevskaya@gmail.com, eLibrary SPIN: 6875-5528, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3911-2715
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