• 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: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/eugenics
Negative Eugenics and Positive Eugenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/eugenics
Euphenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/euphenics
Euthenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/euthenics
Genetic Counselling: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/genetic-counselling
Neonatal Screening: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/neonatal-screening
Prenatal Diagnosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/prenatal-diagnosis
Gene therapy: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/gene-therapy
Erythroblastosis Foetalis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/erythroblastosis-foetalis
Role of Genetic Predisposition in Common Disorders: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/role-genetic-predisposition-common-disorders
Difference between ‘Eugenics’ and ‘Genetic Counselling’: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/difference-between-%E2%80%98eugenics%E2%80%...
FAQs in Genetics and Health (lecture): http://www.ihatepsm.com/category/genetics-and-health