Antibodies in pregnancy: how dangerous Rh-conflict and group incompatibility

Often women who have a negativeRh factor, are worried about their pregnancy and, I must say, not without reason. Rhesus factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. Complexities arise if the mother has a negative Rh factor (Rh-), and the child (Rh +) has a positive, inherited from the father. Less often incompatibility develops on system ABO (group incompatibility). When fetal blood antigens get into the mother's blood, antibodies are produced.

Antibodies during pregnancy destroy erythrocytesfetus, which leads to negative consequences, such as hemolytic disease. Concomitant problems are: a violation of the liver, blood system, heart failure. In the fetus, fluid can accumulate, leading to edema. The disease begins to develop already from the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Why Rhesus is dangerous?

It should be noted that the Rhesus-conflict is not veryIt is dangerous in case pregnancy is the first. Mixing maternal blood with a child's blood occurs after birth, and even the already formed antibodies do not pose a threat to the baby.

However, if a woman is waiting for a second baby, antibodiesat pregnancy can be the reason of serious pathologies from which the child can die still in a womb. The main danger lies in the allocation of a large amount of bilirubin in the fetus to fight the antibodies, which can adversely affect its internal organs, mainly on the liver, spleen and brain. Often, Rhesus conflict leads to miscarriage or premature birth.

Antibodies during pregnancy are formed in the case,if a woman's Rh factor is negative, and a man has a positive rhesus factor. In this case, Rh-conflict occurs in 75% of cases. Incompatibility may occur if a woman has received a blood transfusion, and Rh has not been counted.

Blood test for antibodies

Even when planning pregnancy, every womanshould know your Rh factor and Rh factor of the child's father. If there is a chance of a rhesus-conflict, then it will be necessary to do an analysis for antibodies during pregnancy repeatedly. The first time you need to make this procedure at week 8 of pregnancy and then regularly check for antibodies until 30 weeks - once a month, until 36 weeks - weekly.

To the same serious consequences leadsincompatibility of blood groups of mother and child. Difficulties arise if a woman has I blood group, and the fetus has blood of II or III group. In this case, fetal antigens enter the mother's blood and group antibodies are released. Group antibodies in pregnancy lead to the development of hemolytic disease and are no less dangerous than D-antigens.

However, a blood test for antibodies canTo testify about a pathology only in case it was made in a complex with other methods of diagnostics. Of great importance is the antibody titer and its change in the course of pregnancy. The higher the antibody titer, the more likely the adverse outcome is.

Antibodies during pregnancy should be identifiedin a timely manner, and the woman in the position is prescribed injection courses, which are conducted from 10 to 22, from 22 to 24 and from 32 to 34 weeks. In case of complications, a pregnant woman should be in the hospital, under the supervision of doctors.

Women with a history of miscarriages or a born child with severe hemolytic disease undergo a procedure called plasmapheresis, which is aimed at removing antibodies from the blood.

If the hemolytic disease of the fetusconfirmed, the correct is the early delivery. This is due to the fact that by the end of the period, the intake of antibodies to it is increasing. In severe fetal disease, pregnancy is interrupted. But in most cases it can be brought to an acceptable date of delivery.