Question
Hello, my wife is type AB blood and I am type O blood. Is our child prone to ABO hemolytic disease? What kind of assistance is needed?
Answer
ABO hemolytic disease is a genetic disease caused by blood type incompatibility between mother and child, leading to a blood type immune response. When the dominant antigens inherited from the parents to the child are antigens that the mother lacks, these antigens enter the mother’s body and produce immune antibodies (IgG). These antibodies can cross the placenta into the fetus, bind to receptors on the fetal red blood cells, activate the complement system, and cause red blood cell rupture. This can lead to symptoms such as anemia, edema, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and progressive severe jaundice appearing within a short time after birth. In severe cases, it may even lead to serious brain damage.