Patient's question:
I got a blood type test when I was one month pregnant, and they said it was to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. I want to know what is hemolytic disease of the newborn?Doctor's answer:
Neonatal hemolysis is primarily related to the blood types of the parents. Neonatal hemolysis caused by incompatibility in ABO blood types between the mother and fetus is referred to as "Neonatal ABO Hemolytic Disease." This is a homologous immune hemolysis. During pregnancy or delivery, many fetal red blood cells may enter the mother's body. If the blood types are incompatible, the mother lacks the antigens possessed by fetal red blood cells, and the mother will produce corresponding antibodies. The main symptoms and signs are edema, jaundice, anemia, and hepatosplenomegaly. The severity of the symptoms depends on factors such as the number of antibodies, the maturity of the newborn, and the compensatory hematopoietic capacity.