Rh Blood Group System Overview

What percentage of humans are considered Rh positive?

What happens if an Rh negative person is exposed to Rh positive blood?

What is the term used for the condition where Rh negative mother's antibodies attack the Rh positive baby's red blood cells?

Why should the Rh group be matched before transfusions?

In which pregnancy does the mother get exposed to the Rh positive blood of the fetus?

What can be fatal to the fetus in cases of Rh incompatibility?

How can erythroblastosis fetalis be prevented?

What is the role of the placenta in preventing Rh exposure during the first pregnancy?

Rh Grouping

Rh antigen, similar to one found in Rhesus monkeys, is present on the surface of RBCs in nearly 80% of humans, making them Rh positive (Rh+ve).
Individuals without the Rh antigen are Rh negative (Rh-ve).
Rh-ve individuals will form antibodies against Rh antigens if exposed to Rh+ve blood, making Rh matching necessary for transfusions.

Rh Incompatibility

In pregnancy, Rh-ve mothers with Rh+ve foetuses can experience Rh incompatibility due to placental separation of blood during the first pregnancy.
During delivery, small amounts of Rh+ve blood from the foetus may enter the mother's bloodstream, triggering antibody production against Rh antigens.
In subsequent pregnancies, these Rh antibodies from the mother can leak into the foetus's blood, destroying RBCs and causing:
- Erythroblastosis foetalis, a potentially fatal condition for the foetus.
- Severe anaemia and jaundice in the baby.

Prevention

Administering anti-Rh antibodies to the Rh-ve mother immediately after the first child's delivery can prevent Rh incompatibility issues in subsequent pregnancies.

Learn about the Rh blood group system, where the Rh antigen is observed on the surface of RBCs in the majority of humans. Understand the significance of matching Rh groups before blood transfusions and the concept of Rh compatibility.