normal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in neonates

When the disease is moderate or severe, many erythroblasts are present in the fetal blood and so these forms of the disease can be called erythroblastosis fetalis. This fetal disease ranges from mild to very severe and fetal death from heart failure (hydrops fetalis) can occur. During pregnancy, maternal antibodies are transported across the placenta and enter the fetal circulation and attack the red blood cells in the fetal circulation the red cells are broken down and the fetus can develop reticulocytosis, hyperbilirubinemia and anemia. This incompatibility results in the formation of antibodies in the maternal blood, which attacks the fetal Red Blood Cells (RBCs). The underlying cause of hemolytic disease of the newborn is incompatibility between the maternal and fetal blood. Once sensitized, future pregnancies may be at risk for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Red blood cell (RBCs) sensitization occurs in some women in response to exposure to paternally derived RBC antigens during pregnancy or to non-self antigens on transfused RBCs during their lifetime. Hemolytic disease of the newborn, also known as Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn, (HDN, HDFN), or erythroblastosis fetalis, is an alloimmune condition that develops in a fetus, when the IgG molecules produced by the mother pass through the placenta. The diagnosis, acute management, and follow-up of neonates with hemolytic disease of the newborn still represent an important area of activity for maternity/neonatal services. Hemolytic disease of the newborn can also due to non-immune conditions such as red blood cells membrane disorders like hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis red blood cells enzymes defects like Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency) and haemoglobinopathies like thalassemia, sickle cell.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn is an alloimmune condition that develops in a fetus, when the IgG molecules produced by the mother pass through the placenta.

Normal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in neonates