Erythroblastosis fetalis
Erythroblastosis fetalis (pronunciation: eh-rith-ro-blas-TOE-sis fe-TAY-lis) is a severe medical condition that most commonly occurs in a fetus or newborn infant. This condition is characterized by an abnormal increase of erythroblast cells in the fetal bloodstream.
Etymology
The term "Erythroblastosis fetalis" is derived from the Greek words "erythros" meaning red, "blastos" meaning germ, and "fetalis" referring to fetus. It was first used in medical literature in the early 20th century.
Causes
Erythroblastosis fetalis is caused by an incompatibility between the blood types of a mother and her unborn child, specifically when the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive. This incompatibility can lead to the mother's immune system attacking the baby's red blood cells, causing hemolysis or destruction of the baby's red blood cells.
Symptoms
Symptoms of erythroblastosis fetalis can vary, but may include jaundice, anemia, heart failure, and edema. In severe cases, it can lead to hydrops fetalis, a serious condition characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in two or more fetal compartments, including in the skin, pleura, pericardium, or abdomen.
Treatment
Treatment for erythroblastosis fetalis can include blood transfusions either before birth (intrauterine fetal blood transfusion) or after birth. In some cases, an early delivery may be necessary. The mother may also receive injections of Rh immune globulin to prevent her from developing antibodies against the baby's blood cells.
Prevention
Prevention of erythroblastosis fetalis is possible with the administration of Rh immune globulin to the Rh-negative mother during and after pregnancy, which can prevent sensitization to the Rh antigen.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Erythroblastosis fetalis
- Wikipedia's article - Erythroblastosis fetalis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski