Hemolytic disease of the newborn
Summary of Hemolytic disease of the newborn
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is an alloimmune condition that develops in a fetus when antibodies produced by the mother pass through the placenta. Among these antibodies are some which attack the red blood cells in the fetus' circulation, which are broken down and destroyed (hemolysis). The fetus can develop reticulocytosis and anemia. This fetal disease ranges from mild to very severe. Fetal death from heart failure (hydrops fetalis) can occur. Hemolytic disease of the newborn is commonly classified as ABO or Rh subtypes.