Erythroblastosis Foetalis

• This occurs:

  • If the fetus is Rh positive and
  • mother is Rh negative

• Some fetal red cells cross the placenta and enter maternal circulation in all pregnancies

  • The Rh +ve fetal cells act as foreign antigen and stimulate production of Rh antibodies in the Rh negative mother

• The Rh antibodies are of two main types:

  • The ‘strong’ or saline antibodies and
  • The ‘weak’ or albumin antibodies: these are small 7s gamma globulins which can cross the placental barrier.

• The ‘weak’ or albumin antibodies pass back into the blood circulation of the fetus

• When this happens, the RBC of the fetus are destroyed

• If this damage is severe, the fetus is killed in utero and results in miscarriage

• If the damage is less severe, the infant is born with

  • jaundice,
  • anemia and
  • edema

• This symptom complex is known as Rh hemolytic disease or erythroblastosis foetalis

Reference:

• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 23rd ed.

Eugenics: Eugenics
Negative Eugenics and Positive Eugenics: Eugenics
Euphenics: Euphenics
Euthenics: Euthenics
Genetic Counselling: Genetic Counselling
Neonatal Screening: Neonatal Screening
Prenatal Diagnosis: Prenatal Diagnosis
Gene therapy: Gene therapy
Erythroblastosis Foetalis: Erythroblastosis Foetalis
Role of Genetic Predisposition in Common Disorders: Role of Genetic Predisposition in Common Disorders

Difference between ‘Eugenics’ and ‘Genetic Counselling’: Difference between ‘Eugenics’ and ‘Genetic Counselling’

FAQs in Genetics and Health (lecture): Genetics and Health