Question
What are the typical symptoms of newborn ABO hemolytic disease? When do they appear? What are the results of the laboratory tests?
Answer
The typical symptoms of newborn ABO hemolytic disease include jaundice and elevated bilirubin levels. These usually appear soon after birth. Laboratory tests may show abnormal increases in total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin levels. When symptoms are severe, the baby may require special treatment, including placement in an incubator for blue light therapy, and possibly blood transfusion surgery when necessary. Generally, ABO incompatibility-related hemolytic symptoms are mild, and most newborns do not require special treatment after birth. They simply need timely blue light therapy and medication to relieve symptoms. ABO incompatibility is relatively common during pregnancy, accounting for about 20% to 25% of all pregnancies, but actual cases of hemolytic disease are very rare, only about 2% to 2.5%, and most cases are mild. This is because the fetus’s tissues contain soluble A or B substances that can neutralize A and B antibodies, resulting in milder symptoms of ABO hemolytic disease that often confuse with physiological jaundice in newborns. Some newborns may experience severe hemolytic disease, with symptoms developing more slowly, sometimes reaching a peak between the third and fifth day after birth.