Patient's question:
Medical history: Is there a relationship between four miscarriages and blood type? My blood type is O, and my husband's is A. How should it be treated? Thank you.Doctor's answer:
There are several blood group systems, and blood type incompatibility during pregnancy can lead to neonatal hemolysis. The main cause of this is incompatibility in the ABO and Rh blood group systems. ABO blood group incompatibility occurs when the pregnant woman is type "O" and the husband is type "A," "B," or "AB." If the fetus is also type "A," "B," or "AB," and the pregnant woman has anti-A or anti-B antibodies in her body, these antibodies can cross the placenta into the fetus, destroying the fetus's "A," "B," or "AB" blood cells and causing neonatal hemolysis. The incidence of ABO blood group incompatibility is only 20%, and true neonatal hemolysis occurs in less than 5% of cases, even if it does, it is usually mild.The Rh blood group system refers to a situation where the pregnant woman is Rh(-), while the husband and child are both Rh(+). If the pregnant woman's anti-Rh antibodies enter the fetus, they can cause Rh blood group incompatibility and hemolysis. This type of blood group incompatibility, if it occurs, is usually severe, but it will not happen during the first pregnancy.
Therefore, if there is a possibility of ABO blood group incompatibility, it is recommended to check the pregnant woman's anti-A and anti-B antibodies before pregnancy. If no antibodies are present or if the antibody titer is low, pregnancy can proceed. However, for Rh blood group differences, the first pregnancy is generally acceptable. If the woman has had a history of miscarriage or has borne children before, it is essential to check her Rh antibodies. If the antibodies are present and the titer is high, pregnancy should be avoided, as the risk of stillbirth or severe neonatal hemolysis is significantly greater.