Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Rhc)
Encyclopedia
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Rhc) can range from a mild to a severe disease. It is the third most common cause of severe HDN. Rh disease
is the most common and hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell)
is the second most common cause of severe HDN.
It occurs more commonly in women who are Rh D negative.
(RBC) Rhc antigens by her first pregnancy with a Rhc positive fetus. The mother can make IgG anti-Rhc antibodies, which are able to pass through the placenta
and enter the fetal circulation. If the fetus is Rhc positive alloimmune hemolysis
can occur leading to HDN. This is similar as for Rh disease
, which is usually caused when a RhD negative mother is sensitised by her first pregnancy with a RhD positive fetus.
Sensitization to Rhc antigens can also be caused by blood transfusion.
with Rhc positive blood (or Kell 1 positive blood for similar reasons). This would require a lot of extra work in blood transfusion departments and it is considered not economical to do the blood group screening at the present time.
It is theoretically likely that IgG anti-Rhc antibody injections would prevent sensitization to RBC surface Rhc antigens in a similar way that IgG anti-D antibodies (Rho(D) Immune Globulin
) are used to prevent Rh disease
, but the methods for IgG anti-Rhc antibodies have not been developed at the present time.
. The treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Rhc) is similar to the management of Rh disease
.
Rh disease
Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...
is the most common and hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell)
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell)
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is the second most common cause of severe hemolytic diseases of newborns after Rh disease. Anti-Kell1 is becoming relatively more important as prevention of Rh disease is also becoming more effective....
is the second most common cause of severe HDN.
It occurs more commonly in women who are Rh D negative.
Causes
A Rhc negative mother can become sensitised by red blood cellRed blood cell
Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system...
(RBC) Rhc antigens by her first pregnancy with a Rhc positive fetus. The mother can make IgG anti-Rhc antibodies, which are able to pass through the placenta
Placenta
The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. "True" placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and...
and enter the fetal circulation. If the fetus is Rhc positive alloimmune hemolysis
Hemolysis
Hemolysis —from the Greek meaning "blood" and meaning a "loosing", "setting free" or "releasing"—is the rupturing of erythrocytes and the release of their contents into surrounding fluid...
can occur leading to HDN. This is similar as for Rh disease
Rh disease
Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...
, which is usually caused when a RhD negative mother is sensitised by her first pregnancy with a RhD positive fetus.
Sensitization to Rhc antigens can also be caused by blood transfusion.
Prevention
It has been suggested that women of child bearing age or young girls should not be given a transfusionBlood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
with Rhc positive blood (or Kell 1 positive blood for similar reasons). This would require a lot of extra work in blood transfusion departments and it is considered not economical to do the blood group screening at the present time.
It is theoretically likely that IgG anti-Rhc antibody injections would prevent sensitization to RBC surface Rhc antigens in a similar way that IgG anti-D antibodies (Rho(D) Immune Globulin
Rho(D) Immune Globulin
Rho Immune Globulin is a medicine given by intramuscular injection that is used to prevent the immunological condition known as Rhesus disease...
) are used to prevent Rh disease
Rh disease
Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...
, but the methods for IgG anti-Rhc antibodies have not been developed at the present time.
Management
It can be detected by routine antenatal antibody screening blood tests (indirect Coombs test) in a similar way to Rh diseaseRh disease
Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...
. The treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Rhc) is similar to the management of Rh disease
Rh disease
Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...
.
See also
- Coombs testCoombs testCoombs test refers to two clinical blood tests used in immunohematology and immunology...
- HematologyHematologyHematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
- Hemolytic anemiaHemolytic anemiaHemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells , either in the blood vessels or elsewhere in the human body . It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening...