How is erythroblastosis foetalis caused?

Erythroblastosis fetalis, also known as hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), is a condition that occurs when a pregnant woman's immune system attacks her baby's red blood cells. This can happen when the mother and baby have different blood types.

The most common cause of erythroblastosis fetalis is Rh incompatibility. Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive. The Rh factor is a protein that is found on the surface of red blood cells. If the mother is Rh-negative, she does not have the Rh factor on her red blood cells. If the baby is Rh-positive, he or she inherited the Rh factor from the father.

During pregnancy, the mother's immune system can recognize the baby's Rh-positive red blood cells as foreign and attack them. This can lead to the destruction of the baby's red blood cells, which can cause anemia, jaundice, and other serious health problems.

Erythroblastosis fetalis can also be caused by other blood type incompatibilities, such as ABO incompatibility. However, Rh incompatibility is the most common cause.

Erythroblastosis fetalis can be prevented by giving Rh-negative mothers a vaccine called RhoGAM. RhoGAM is an antibody that prevents the mother's immune system from attacking the baby's Rh-positive red blood cells. RhoGAM is usually given during pregnancy and after delivery.