Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell₁) is the second most common cause of severe hemolytic diseases of newborns (HDN) after Rh disease

Rh disease

Rh disease is one of the causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn...

. Anti-Kell₁ is becoming relatively more important as prevention of Rh disease is also becoming more effective.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell₁) is caused by a mismatch between the Kell antigens

Kell antigen system

The Kell antigen system is a group of antigens on the human red blood cell surface which are important determinants of blood type and are targets for autoimmune or alloimmune diseases which destroy red blood cells. Kell can be noted as K, k, or Kp...

 of the mother and fetus.