Fetal erythroblastosis

 Disease class: Fetal diseases

Disease class: Haematologic diseases

Disease class: Immune system diseases
Disease class: Neonatal Diseases

Also known as

• Haemolytic disease of the newborn
• Erythroblastosis fetalis

This is an alloimmune reaction which results in the destruction of foetal erythrocytes by maternal IgG. The result may be mild or severe.

 

Features

• Reticulocytosis
• Anaemia

 

Complications

• Hydrops fetalis
• High at birth or rapidly rising bilirubin
• Prolonged hyperbilirubinemia
• Bilirubin induced neurological dysfunction
• Cerebral palsy
• Kernicterus
• Neutropenia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Haemolytic anemia
• Late onset anaemia

 

Management

• Any haemolytic anaemia must NOT be treated with iron. Can persist up to 12 weeks after birth.