“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN) is a medical condition that occurs when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of a mother and her fetus. This condition is also known as erythroblastosis fetalis. HDN occurs when the mother's immune system produces antibodies that attack and destroy the red blood cells of the fetus. This usually occurs when the mother has Rh-negative blood and the fetus has Rh-positive blood.
During pregnancy, if the mother and fetus have incompatible blood types, small amounts of fetal blood may enter the mother's bloodstream. This triggers the mother's immune system to produce antibodies against the fetal blood cells. In subsequent pregnancies, if the fetus has the same blood type as the previous fetus, the mother's antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy the fetal red blood cells, leading to anemia, jaundice, and other complications.
The severity of HDN can vary depending on the amount of fetal blood that enters the mother's bloodstream and the level of antibodies produced by the mother's immune system. Mild cases of HDN may cause no symptoms, while severe cases can result in fetal or neonatal death.
HDN can be prevented by administering Rh immune globulin (RhIg) to Rh-negative women during pregnancy and after delivery. RhIg works by binding to and destroying any fetal Rh-positive blood cells that enter the mother's bloodstream, before her immune system can recognize and attack them. This prevents the mother from producing Rh antibodies that can cause HDN in future pregnancies.
Treatment for HDN depends on the severity of the condition. Mild cases may only require close monitoring of the fetus and neonatal jaundice, while severe cases may require blood transfusions, phototherapy, or other interventions.