What is ABO Hemolytic Disease?

Question

What is ABO hemolytic disease, what are the symptoms, how should it be treated, and what are the potential complications?

Answer

ABO hemolytic disease is a newborn condition related to blood types, commonly occurring when the mother has blood type O and the baby has blood type A or B. In such cases, the mother’s immune system may produce antibodies that pass through the placenta into the baby’s bloodstream, destroying the baby’s red blood cells and causing hemolysis. Typical symptoms include mild to moderate anemia and jaundice. Treatment usually involves supportive care, such as providing adequate fluids and nutrition, as well as lowering levels of bilirubin in the blood. Although ABO hemolytic disease is relatively common, most cases are mild and rarely lead to severe complications.