In: Anatomy and Physiology
the effect of different Rh between mother ad the fetus
- Rh+ blood group means the circulating erythrocytes (red blood cells) have Rh antigen on their surface.
- If the mother is Rh- and fetus is Rh+, the fetal red blood cells (erythrocytes) enters maternal circulation during delivery or anytime during pregnancy if there is mixing of fetal and maternal blood due to any cause which causes production of Anti-Rh antibodies in the mother's circulation.
- During subsequent pregnancy with Rh+ fetus, the circulating Anti-Rh antibodies in the maternal circulation enters the fetal circulation and cause destruction of Rh+ erythrocytes which causes severe fetal anemia and might be fatal. This condition is known as erythroblastosis fetalis.
- Thus, due to Rh incompatibility, there occurs destruction of fetal red blood cells which might prove fatal and the condition is called as hemolytic disease of newborn ( erythroblastosis fetalis).
- Most of the Anti Rh antibodies belong to the class of IgG Immunoglobulin which can cross the placenta.
- Hemolytic disease of newborn can also occur due to ABO blood group incompatibility.