Common Diseases in Newborns Due to Abo Blood Group Mismatching in Parents

Abstract

Dev Desai and Maria Eleni Malafi

Hemolytic disease of the newborn, also called erythroblastosis fetalis refers to a blood disorder due to ABO incompatibility between mother and fetus. Manifestation of the disease ranges and depends on specific factors. In severe cases phototherapy is the therapy of choice. Potential consequences of HDN are jaundice, anemia and fetal hydrops. In order to prevent ABO-incompatibility’s occurrence, detection of mother’s blood type and monitoring during and post birth are necessary.

Main text:

ABO blood group incompatibility between mother and newborn can lead to many serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses and complications.

The ABO blood group consists of three allelic forms, A, B and O and child’s genotype and phenotype arises from parental genetic profile. The presence or absence of certain antigens on red blood cells determines blood type. The most common type of ABO incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood type is O and the newborn's blood type is A or B. This condition refers to the common hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a condition that occurs when the mother's antibodies attack the baby's red blood cells [1]. In ABO incompatibility, the mother's antibodies recognize the baby's red blood cells as foreign and attack them. HDN can range from mild to severe, with severe cases leading to jaundice, anemia, brain damage, and even death. The severity of HDN depends on the amount of antibodies in the mother's blood, the baby's blood type, and the baby's general health [2]. In most cases of ABO incompatibility, HDN is mild and resolves spontaneously without treatment. However, in severe cases, the baby may need phototherapy to treat jaundice or a blood transfusion to replace damaged red blood cells [3].

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