Blood Incompatibility, newborn

Rh incompatibility may occur when an Rh negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus. At the time of delivery, a small amount of the baby s Rh-positive blood may gain access to the maternal circulation. In response, the immune system of the mother produces anti-Rh antibodies. During the subsequent pregnancy, the fetus is exposed to these antibodies as they cross the placenta. If this fetus is also Rh-positive, then the anti-Rh antibodies attack the fetal erythrocytes and cause hemolytic disease of the newborn (erythroblastosis fetalis). This may occur in about 3% of second Rh-positive babies and about 10% of third Rh-positive babies. The incidence continues to increase with subsequent pregnancies. 

Other Disorders Discussed in Relation to Hereditary G-6-PDH Deficiency, Severe hemolytic jaundice in newborns without incompatibility either in classic blood groups or in the rhesus Systran, but... 

Elevation of bilirubin commonly occurs in newborns. Sometimes this is not due to a deficiency in glucuronyl transferase but to blood group antigen-antibody incompatibilities which result in excess red cell destruction. Here, too, there is a rise in unconjugated bilirubin. Phototherapy and blood transfusion may both be helpful here. 

Hemolytic Disease. Hemolytic disease in the newborn results from maternal-fetal incompatibility of Rhesus blood factors in which the maternal Rh-negative blood becomes... 

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