Rh incompatibility

Rhesus System

Rh Blood Group

Rhesus (Rh) factor is an inherited protein found on surface of red blood cells. If your blood has the protein, then you are Rh positive. If your blood lacks the proteins,then you are Rh negative.

About 85%'of people have Rh antigen, they are rehesus positive (Rh+ve). Remaining 5% have no Rhesus antigen. They are rhesus negative, or (Rh-ve)

Note -  Rh. +ve not make anti-Rehesus antibodies but are stimulated to do so only in certain circumstances.

For example, in pregnancy or as the result of an incompatible blood transfusion.

If an Rh-ve person recieves an Rh+ve blood transfusion, immune system starts to make anti Rh antibodies that wil remain in blood. 

If a second transfusion of Rh+ve blood is given later, previously formed Rh antibodies will cause agglutination and hemolysis of RBCs blood and severe reaction.

Rh-ve pregnancy is a condition that occurs when mothers's blood group is Rh-ve and baby's blood group is Rh+ve

Baby's blood enters mothers blood circulation sometimes during pregnancy and/ or labour and child-birth.

Mothers blood cells recognize fetal Rh+ve red blood cell as foreign and produce anti Rh antibodies to destroy the cells.

Rh antibodies  refers fetal circulation with mothers blood and destroy fetal red blood cells causing hemolytic

disease of the newborn leading to anemia and jaundice in the body.

If a unit of incompatible blood is transfused between a donor and recipient, a severe acute hemolytic reaction with hemolysis (RBC destruction), renal failure and shock occured and death is possibly.

Rh incompatibity

Condition that develops when pregnancy woman has Rh Negative blood and  body in her womb has Rh-positive blood.

Mother body create antibodies (protein) against baby Rh- positive blood.

These antibodies can cross placenta and attack baby RBC

Can lead to hemolytic anemia in baby

Rh incompatobility usually doesnot care problem during a first pregnancy.