Question

What physiological circumstances lead to erythroblastosis foetalis?

Answer 1

Erythroblastosis foetalis:

$\bullet$ An Rh -ve person, if exposed to Rh +ve blood, will form specific antibodies against the Rh antigen.

$\bullet$ A special case of Rh incompatibility (mismatching) has been observed between the Rh -ve blood of a pregnant mother with Rh +ve blood of the fetus.

$\bullet$ The RBCs from the foetus get into the blood of the mother causing her to produce antibodies against Rh+ve blood of the foetus.

$\bullet$ The first child of such a mother is normally delivered.

$\bullet$ In the second subsequent Rh+ pregnancy, the foetus will be exposed to the anti Rh antibodies produced by the mother and results in destruction of RBCs of the foetus and cause erythroblastosis foetalis.