Question
As an O-positive Rh-negative pregnant woman, her partner is A-positive Rh-negative, and she is now six months pregnant. She has undergone testing for neonatal hemolytic disease, and the results show: 1. The ABO antibody test in the pregnant woman’s serum is non-specific with an undetermined titer, and the medium is saline plus agglutination; 2. The IgG anti-A titer is 128, and the anti-B titer is not indicated. I would like to know, based on these test results, whether the fetus is at risk, what the probability of neonatal hemolytic disease is, and whether medication prevention is needed, as well as what preventive measures are available?
Answer
Neonatal hemolytic disease is a significant threat to neonatal health, often caused by incompatibility between maternal and fetal blood types. Maternal antibodies enter the newborn’s bloodstream and destroy red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. Clinical symptoms commonly include jaundice of the skin, and in severe cases, there may be noticeable edema and anemia at birth. To avoid unnecessary blood transfusions, efforts can be made to reduce the incidence of this condition. Mild cases typically require only glucose supplementation and can heal quickly without special treatment. In severe cases, immediate treatment after birth can also lead to rapid improvement, and the child can grow up without any differences from a normal child. Early detection of bilirubin encephalopathy can still have a chance of recovery through exchange transfusion; late detection may be accompanied by sequelae. In cases of systemic edema, despite aggressive treatment, the chances of success are relatively low.