Abstract

LOPEZ DE ROUX, María del Rosario  and  CORTINA ROSALES, Lázaro. Perinatal hemolytic disease. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2000, vol.16, n.3, pp. 161-183. ISSN 1561-2996.

The perinatal hemolytic disease (PHD) is an alloimmune immunological affection against those antigens of paternal origin that are present in the erythrocytes of the fetus and the newborn infant. Several alloantibodies directed against erythrocytic antigens have been reported as the cause of PHD. The most frequently reported are those of the ABO and Rh systems. The PHD caused by the Rh system is usually severe, particularly that produced by the antigen D. It is very common to find the anti-D associated with other Rh antibodies (C,E, of lower titer).The anti-c antibody may produce severe PHD by itself. The advances in the prevention of immunization by D antigen have reduced the incidende of this disease. The PHD caused by ABO has always been more frequent, but its relationship with fetal or neonatal death is lower than that of PHD-Rh. In this type of PHD the antibodies are preformed. The IgG subclasses predominating in this disease are IgG1 and IgG3. In the light of the present knowledge, the diagnosis of this disease may be made early. It is possible to make it even before birth and to indicate the intrauterine fetal transfusion as a method for saving the fetuses with hematocrites lower or equal to 30%. The phototherapy and the exchange transfusion are used among the newborn infants to reduce the serum levels of bilirubin produced by hemolysis and to prevent kernicterus. As long as the disease is suspected it is necessary to act quickly and to determine the involved antibodies in order to reduce its incidence and morbimortality

Keywords : ERYTHROBLASTOSIS, FETAL [diagnosis]; BLOOD TRANSFUSION, INTRAUTERINE; RH ISO-IMMUNIZATION.

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