Following the discovery of the Rh factor in 1940, research revealed that mothers of children with erythroblastosis fetalis are typically Rh-negative, while the affected children and their fathers are Rh-positive. The maternal immune response leads to the production of Rh antibodies that cross the placenta and damage fetal red blood cells. However, the antibody titer in maternal serum does not consistently correlate with disease severity in the fetus. Factors such as placental permeability, anamnestically triggered antibody production, and antibody persistence complicate prognostic predictions. Clinical examples demonstrate that low maternal titers can still result in severe fetal outcomes, and vice versa. Therefore, while antibody titration provides useful information, it cannot reliably predict fetal prognosis without considering broader immunological and placental dynamics.
| Primary Language | English |
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| Subjects | Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | February 28, 1961 |
| IZ | https://izlik.org/JA38TH24HD |
| Published in Issue | Year 1961 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 |