Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-RhE)
Encyclopedia
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-RhE) is caused by the anti-RhE antibody of the Rhesus blood group system
. The anti-RhE antibody
can be naturally occurring, or arise following immune
sensitization after a blood transfusion
or pregnancy.
The anti-RhE antibody is quite common especially in the Rhesus genotype CDe/CDe; it can occasionally cause mild jaundice
in the neonate, but it never causes severe haemolytic disease of the newborn. It can occur with other antibodies, usually the anti-Rhc antibody, which can cause a severe hemolytic disease.
Rhesus blood group system
The Rh blood group system is one of thirty current human blood group systems. Clinically, it is the most important blood group system after ABO. At Present, the Rh blood group system consists of 50 defined blood-group antigens, among which the 5 antigens D, C, c, E, and e are the most important...
. The anti-RhE antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
can be naturally occurring, or arise following immune
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
sensitization after a blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
or pregnancy.
The anti-RhE antibody is quite common especially in the Rhesus genotype CDe/CDe; it can occasionally cause mild jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
in the neonate, but it never causes severe haemolytic disease of the newborn. It can occur with other antibodies, usually the anti-Rhc antibody, which can cause a severe hemolytic disease.
See also
- Coombs testCoombs testCoombs test refers to two clinical blood tests used in immunohematology and immunology...
- HematologyHematologyHematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
- Hemolytic anemiaHemolytic anemiaHemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells , either in the blood vessels or elsewhere in the human body . It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening...