Question

To avoid erythroblastosis foetalis

• A. the baby is administered Rh antibodies
• B. the baby is administered anti-Rh antibodies
• C. the mother is administered Rh antibodies
• D. the mother is administered anti-Rh antibodies

Answer 1

The correct option is D the mother is administered anti-Rh antibodies

Erythroblastosis foetalis results from Rh incompatibility, which may develop when a woman with Rh -ve blood conceives a foetus with Rh +ve blood. In this, the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of a foetus are destroyed in a maternal immune reaction resulting from blood group incompatibility between the foetus and the mother. This starts when an
Rh-ve mother with no Rh antigens has an Rh+ve baby who has Rh antigens. As long as she is pregnant, there is no mixing of blood and nothing bad happens. During delivery, some blood cells of the baby usually enter the mother’s bloodstream. After delivery, mother’s blood will produce antibodies against Rh factor. Months/years after delivery, antibodies against Rh antigen remain in mother’s blood. During the next pregnancy, mother’s antibodies attack foetal RBCs having the Rh factor. This is erythroblastosis foetalis and can even be fatal for the foetus. This can be avoided by administering anti-Rh antibodies to the mother immediately after the delivery of the first child.