Surgery Encyclopedia | Bon Secours St. Francis Health System

Rh Incompatibility - Series

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Part 1

Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood type is Rh negative and her fetus' blood type is Rh positive.

Part 1

Part 2

If some of the fetus' blood passes into the mother's blood stream, her body will produce antibodies in response.

Part 2

Part 3

These antibodies could pass back through the placenta and harm the fetus' red blood cells, causing mild to serious anemia in the fetus.

Part 3

Review Date: Aug 18, 2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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