Definition

Noun: A severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, characterized by anemia, jaundice, and edema. It is caused by the destruction of the fetus's red blood cells by antibodies from the mother's immune system. This incompatibility typically arises when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus.

Usage

This is a medical term used specifically in pediatrics, obstetrics, and hematology. * The obstetrician monitored the pregnancy closely due to the risk of erythroblastosis fetalis. * The development of erythroblastosis fetalis can now often be prevented with Rh immunoglobulin injections.

Advanced Usage

• Pathogenesis: The term describes the pathological process where maternal IgG antibodies cross the placenta and attack fetal red blood cells, leading to extramedullary hematopoiesis (blood cell formation outside the bone marrow) and the release of immature erythroblasts into the fetal circulation.
• Hydrops fetalis: This is the most severe form of erythroblastosis fetalis, where fetal anemia leads to heart failure, generalized edema (swelling), and fluid accumulation in body cavities.

Variants and Related Words

• Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN): This is a broader, more general term that encompasses erythroblastosis fetalis caused by Rh incompatibility as well as other blood group incompatibilities (e.g., Kell, Duffy).
• Rh disease: A common synonym specifically referring to erythroblastosis fetalis resulting from Rh(D) incompatibility.
• Kernicterus: A serious neurological complication that can result from severe, untreated erythroblastosis fetalis, caused by the deposition of bilirubin in the brain.

Synonyms

• Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)
• Rh disease
• Rh incompatibility disease

Related Phrases

• Rh incompatibility: The condition that underlies and causes erythroblastosis fetalis.
• Coombs test: A diagnostic blood test used to detect the antibodies that cause erythroblastosis fetalis.
• Intrauterine transfusion: A treatment for severe erythroblastosis fetalis performed before birth.

Noun

1. severe anemia in newborn babies; the result of Rh incompatibility between maternal and fetal blood; typically occurs when the child of an Rh-negative mother inherits Rh-positive blood from the father; can be diagnosed before birth by amniocentesis