Blood group antibodies and hemolytic disease of the newborn
Lin-Chu, M.; Broadberry, R.E.; Chang, F.C.; Yang, T.F.; Hwang, F.Y.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 85(8): 799-806
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0371-7682 PMID: 3467022 Document Number: 269297
Anti-A and anti-B hemolysin levels, saline and IgG agglutinin titers in group O Taiwanese females were compared with group 0 white American females to ascertain whether these factors were responsible for the higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia due to feto-maternal ABO incompatibility in Taiwanese neonates than in white American neonates. Although the data about blood group antibodies in white and black American women is controversial, anti-A and anti-B IgG titers seem higher in group O Taiwanese females than in group O white American females. The higher IgG agglutinin titers would therefore not be the sole factors responsible for the higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia due to ABO incompatibility in Taiwanese. Presumably other factors such as fetal A, B antigenic strength as well as neonatal liver function influence the severity of hyperbilirubinemia. Since group A or B neonates without hyperbilirubinemia, born to group O mothers showed transplacental anti-A and anti-B IgG antibodies by positive direct Coombs test (6/13), red cell eluates reacting with A cells or B cells (12/13), and presence of anti-A and anti-B in the serum (12/13), diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the newborn due to ABO incompatibility should not be based solely on the immunohematological findings.