The Allo Podcast

Allo Hope Foundation

The Allo Podcast brings you into the complex world of maternal red blood cell alloimmunization and Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN.) We share real life patient experiences, valuable insights for providers and care teams, and easy to understand monitoring and treatment information. We empower you to advocate for the best possible care, and we have a great time doing it.

  1. Bizarre HDFN Facts and Fascinating Case Studies

    EPISODE 1

    Bizarre HDFN Facts and Fascinating Case Studies

    Bethany and Molly kick off Season 4 with a dive into the weirdest corners of HDFN — from mind-blowing bizarre facts (like babies born with 100% donor blood and drones parachuting blood bags in Africa) to rare case studies featuring anti-Kell + anti-D, the ultra-rare anti-KU and anti-PP1P˩K antibodies, and a mystery about false-positive newborn screens that still has experts stumped. Watch this episode on YouTube  Do you have any ideas about why some infants who have received IUTs test (falsely) positive for certain metabolic syndromes in their newborn screens? E-mail us at info@allohopefoundation.org View all of our resources at www.allohopefoundation.org If you are an alloimmunized mother from any country, you are welcome in our Facebook support group called “Antibodies in Pregnancy: An AHF Support Group. Join here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/antibodiesinpregnancy Please consider donating to AHF. If you are a listener, you know we do a lot with a little. Not sure how much will make a difference? An antibody screen in Kenya costs $13 USD. A dose of RhIG for a mother who cannot afford it is $80 USD. Click here to make a one-time or recurring donation. References in this episode:  Read more about the “grandmother effect” here where a female fetus can become exposed to her mother’s Rh(D) positive blood in utero, priming her for Anti-D sensitization: here. Gender as a risk factor for developing neutropenia in HDFN: Alkhani A, Arefi A, AlTayeb M, Naaz S, Alghanbar J, Alhuthil R, Alrowaily F, Almidani E. Incidence and risk factors of neutropenia in neonates with hemolytic disease of the newborn. International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 2024 Sep 1;11(3):83-7. Available here.; Blanco E, Johnston DL. Neutropenia in infants with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Pediatric blood & cancer. 2012 Jun;58(6):950-2. Available here. Read about drone delivery of blood in Rwanda: here. Anti-PP1PK literature review and case presentations: Di Ciaccio P, Cutts B, Alahakoon TI, Dennington PM, Soo LA, Curnow J. Clinical consequences of the extremely rare anti‐PP1Pk isoantibodies in pregnancy: a case series and review of the literature. Vox Sanguinis. 2021 May;116(5):591-600.  Available here.

    48 min
  2. EPISODE 2

    Kayla's Story: The Miles a Mother Will Go

    When Kayla discovered anti-Kell antibodies at just 12 weeks, a sky-high titer and a terrifying 1.64 MCA score at 15 weeks sent her and her husband on a same-day flight from Pennsylvania to Austin, Texas for an emergency intraperitoneal transfusion—the first of nine lifesaving IUTs that would turn them into frequent flyers and the Dell Children’s fetal team into family. Kayla’s story is a powerful reminder that when the stakes are your child’s life, you do whatever it takes—and that knowledge, advocacy, and the right medical team really do save babies. Show themes:  Anti-K alloimmunized pregnancyHigh-titer alloimmunized pregnancyLong-distance travel for specialty care Intrauterine transfusionPhenobarbital (for the mother prior to delivery)Darbepoetin (in the newborn with HDFN)Severe HDFN survivalWatch this episode on YouTube View all of our resources at www.allohopefoundation.org If you are an alloimmunized mother from any country, you are welcome in our Facebook support group called “Antibodies in Pregnancy: An AHF Support Group. Join here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/antibodiesinpregnancy Please consider donating to AHF. If you are a listener, you know we do a lot with a little. Not sure how much will make a difference? An antibody screen in Kenya costs $13 USD. A dose of RhIG for a mother who cannot afford it is $80 USD. Click Here to make a one-time or recurring donation. References in this episode:  Neonatal best practices document that Kayla used in the NICU: Read here. Phenobarbital before delivery to help mature fetal liver: Trevett Jr TN, Dorman K, Lamvu G, Moise Jr KJ. Antenatal maternal administration of phenobarbital for the prevention of exchange transfusion in neonates with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2005 Feb 1;192(2):478-82. Read here. Use of erythropoietin or darbepoetin to reduce the number of top-up transfusions in babies with HDFN and a history of IUT: Ree IM, de Haas M, van Geloven N, Juul SE, de Winter D, Verweij EJ, Oepkes D, van der Bom JG, Lopriore E. Darbepoetin alfa to reduce transfusion episodes in infants with haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn who are treated with intrauterine transfusions in the Netherlands: an open-label, single-centre, phase 2, randomised, controlled trial. The Lancet Haematology. 2023 Dec 1;10(12):e976-84.  Read Here

    1h 38m
  3. EPISODE 3

    Quick and Nerdy: cffDNA

    Bethany and Molly make a mini episode all about cell free fetal DNA, the blood test on mom that can determine a baby’s antigen status beginning around 10 weeks gestation. This is an accurate, non-invasive way to find out if a baby is at risk of HDFN by capturing free-floating fetal DNA from the mother’s blood and testing it to see if baby has the antigen that the mom’s antibodies may attack, causing HDFN. We also suggest listening to Season 1 Episode 2 about Prenatal Blood Tests. Watch this episode on YouTube CffDNA is officially recommended in the recently published clinical practice guidelines (listen to previous episode, S4E3, for more information about the guidelines):  Moise KJ, Markham KB, Spinella PC, Sherwood MR, Robinson KA, Wilson LM, Malone J, Espinoza J, Dizon-Townson D, Mercer L, Miller R. A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Pregnancy Alloimmunized to Red Blood Cell Antigens. JAMA Network Open. 2025 Nov 3;8(11):e2544649-. Available here. Note that additional practice points are in the supplemental content. To access all recommendations, practice points, and their rationale, we recommend clicking “supplemental content”, downloading the file, and accessing Table 4. This provides all information in one table for easy printing and reference. Options for cffDNA in various countries:  cffDNA from Sanquin Laboratories (Netherlands; can be shipped internationally) (D, E, C, c, K) Information here. cffDNA from BillionToOne’s Unity Screen (U.S.)  (D, E, C, c, K, Fya) Publication here. Order form here. cffDNA from Natera’s Panorama test (U.S.) (D) Information here. cffDNA from NHS (UK/Ireland) (D, E, C, c, K) Information here. cffDNA from Canadian Blood Services (D, E, C, c, K; 16-20 weeks gestation) Information here. cffDNA from Lifeblood (Australia) (D, E, K, k, E, c, Fya, Fyb; 12 weeks gestation) Information here. More resources about cffDNA:  Moise Jr KJ. The use of free DNA for fetal RHD genotyping in the Rh negative pregnant patient—the time has come. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025 Feb 1;232(2):188-93. Available here. Gandhi M. Paternal and Fetal Genotyping in the Management of Alloimmunization in Pregnancy. Available here. Regan F, Veale K, Robinson F, Brennand J, Massey E, Qureshi H, Finning K, Watts T, Lees C, Southgate E, Robinson S. Guideline for the investigation and management of red cell antibodies in pregnancy: A British Society for Haematology guideline. Transfusion Medicine. Available here. View all of our resources at www.allohopefoundation.org If you are an alloimmunized mother from any country, you are welcome in our Facebook support group called “Antibodies in Pregnancy: An AHF Support Group. Join here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/antibodiesinpregnancy Please consider donating to AHF. If you are a listener, you know we do a lot with a little. Not sure how much will make a difference? An antibody screen in Kenya costs $13 USD. A dose of RhIG for a mother who cannot afford it is $80 USD.  Click here  to make a one-time or recurring donation.

    24 min
  4. EPISODE 4

    The New HDFN Guidelines: A Historic Moment for Families

    403 The New HDFN Guidelines: A Historic Moment for Families In this historic episode of the Allo Podcast from the Allo Hope Foundation, hosts Bethany Weathersby and Molly Sherwood celebrate the release of new evidence-based, expert-backed, and patient-informed guidelines for the prevention and management of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). They discuss why these comprehensive guidelines were urgently needed to address longstanding care gaps, highlight key prenatal and neonatal recommendations that could save lives, and share the unique collaborative process behind their creation. Listeners are encouraged to access and implement these guidelines to improve outcomes for alloimmunized families. Watch this episode on YouTube Access all guidelines resources on our guidelines landing page (we upload the published manuscripts and associated resources as they become available): https://allohopefoundation.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/ Pregnancy management guidelines: Moise KJ, Markham KB, Spinella PC, Sherwood MR, Robinson KA, Wilson LM, Malone J, Espinoza J, Dizon-Townson D, Mercer L, Miller R. A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Pregnancy Alloimmunized to Red Blood Cell Antigens. JAMA Network Open. 2025 Nov 3;8(11):e2544649-. Available here. Note that additional practice points are in the supplemental content. To access all recommendations, practice points, and their rationale, we recommend clicking “supplemental content”, downloading the file, and accessing Table 4. This provides all information in one table for easy printing and reference. If you are an alloimmunized mother from any country, you are welcome in our Facebook support group called “Antibodies in Pregnancy: An AHF Support Group. Join here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/antibodiesinpregnancy Please consider donating to AHF. If you are a listener, you know we do a lot with a little. Not sure how much will make a difference? An antibody screen in Kenya costs $13 USD. A dose of RhIG for a mother who cannot afford it is $80 USD. Click here to make a one-time or recurring donation. Our most sincere thank you to all clinicians and patients involved in the guidelines development process, including: Philip Spinella, MD; Christine Leeper, MD; Molly Sherwood; Bethany Weathersby, MEd; Mark Yazer, MD; Cassandra Josephson, MD; Jennifer Andrews, MD; Kenneth Moise Jr, MD; Timothy Bahr, MD; Allison Ayapantecatl; Nick Carr, DO, FAAP; Ravi Patel, MD; Robert Christensen, MD; Sarah Ilstrup, MD; Jon Watchko, MD; Karen Robinson, PhD, MSc; Lisa Wilson, ScM; Anthony Sciscione, DO; Donna Dizon-Townson, MD; Jimmy Espinoza, MD, Msc; Juan González Vélez MD, PhD; Kara Markham, MD; Laura Mercer, MD, MBA, MPH; Leonardo Pereira, MD, M.C.R.; Russell Miller, MD; Saul Snowise, MD; Alireza Shamshiraz, MD; Thomas Trevett, MD; Andre Cap, MD, PhD; Jeanne Hendrickson, MD; Paul Ness, MD; Ross Fasano, MD; Stella Chou, MD; Alyssa Ziman, MD; Barbara Gaines, MD; Bryan Cotton, MD, MPH; Denis Snegovskikh, MD; Donald Jenkins, MD; Frank Guyette, MD; Jason Sperry, MD; Jay Malone, MD, MS, PhD; COL Jennifer Gurney, MD; Joseph Sakran, MD, MPA, MPH; Juan Duchesne, MD; Katie Shanahan, CPNP; Nancy Dunbar, MD; Pampee Young, MD; Rich Gammon, MD; Susan Stern, MD; CAPT Travis Polk, MD

    59 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

The Allo Podcast brings you into the complex world of maternal red blood cell alloimmunization and Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN.) We share real life patient experiences, valuable insights for providers and care teams, and easy to understand monitoring and treatment information. We empower you to advocate for the best possible care, and we have a great time doing it.