Heamolytic disease of the newborn: Difference between revisions
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Haemolytic disease of the | Haemolytic disease of the newborn (''Erythroblastosis fetalis'') is a disease in which [[Rhesus incompatibility|Rhesus incompatibility]] between a mother and a foetus causes the mother's [[Immune system|immune system]] to attack and destroy the foetal [[Red blood cells|RBCs]]. This results in severe [[Haemolytic anaemia|haemolytic anaemia]] and the associated issues of intravascular coagulation, damage to the [[Heart|heart and]] [[Lungs|lungs]], jaundice and swelling of the[[Liver|liver and]] spleen in the foetus<ref>Patton, T. (2010)The human body in health and disease (5th ed). Missouri; Mosby Elsevier. Chapter 12, page 355</ref>. | ||
=== Cause === | |||
Haemolytic disease of the | Haemolytic disease of the newborn occurs, when Rh positive foetal RBCs cross the [[Placenta|placenta]] and enter the [[Rh negative|Rh negative]] mother’s bloodstream. The Rhesus [[Antigens|antigens]] expressed on the foetal RBCs are recognised as foreign to the maternal immune system and [[IgG|IgG]] antibodies are raised against them. These maternal anti-Rh IgGs are capable of crossing the placenta and coating the foetal RBCs, enabling [[Phagocytosis|phagocytosis]] by [[White blood cells|white blood cells]]<ref>Murphy K. (2012)Janeway's Immunobiology (8th edition)Newyork; Garland Science. Page 729</ref>. | ||
=== References === | |||
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Latest revision as of 20:50, 5 December 2017
Haemolytic disease of the newborn (Erythroblastosis fetalis) is a disease in which Rhesus incompatibility between a mother and a foetus causes the mother's immune system to attack and destroy the foetal RBCs. This results in severe haemolytic anaemia and the associated issues of intravascular coagulation, damage to the heart and lungs, jaundice and swelling of theliver and spleen in the foetus[1].
Cause
Haemolytic disease of the newborn occurs, when Rh positive foetal RBCs cross the placenta and enter the Rh negative mother’s bloodstream. The Rhesus antigens expressed on the foetal RBCs are recognised as foreign to the maternal immune system and IgG antibodies are raised against them. These maternal anti-Rh IgGs are capable of crossing the placenta and coating the foetal RBCs, enabling phagocytosis by white blood cells[2].