Question

How should ABO hemolytic disease in infants be treated? As parents, we are very concerned about this situation, please give us some advice.

Answer

Treatment for newborns includes medication, phototherapy (blue light), and blood exchange therapy. When it comes to blood transfusions and blood exchanges for infants and newborns, fresh blood not older than 7 days should be chosen, and blood that matches both the mother and the infant should be selected. Appropriate blood types that are compatible with the Rh system and the ABO system should be chosen. Here are the different treatment blood types based on the type of hemolytic disease:

  1. Newborn hemolytic disease caused by antibodies from systems other than ABO: Choose a blood type that does not contain antigens corresponding to this specificity and is compatible with the infant’s ABO system.
  2. ABO newborn hemolytic disease: Choose O-type Rh red blood cells that match the infant’s type (matched with the mother’s serum).
  3. RhD newborn hemolytic disease: Choose RhD-negative ABO blood type that matches both the mother and the infant; or choose O-type RhD-negative red blood cells (matched with the mother’s serum). I hope this answer helps you understand the treatment methods for ABO hemolytic disease in infants. If you have any more questions, please feel free to consult with a doctor at any time.