What are the causes and symptoms of erythroblastosis fetalis?
Rh disease and ABO incompatibility disease are caused when a mother’s immune system produces antibodies against the red blood cells of her unborn child. The antibodies cause the baby’s red blood cells to be destroyed and the baby develops anemia. The baby’s body tries to compensate for the anemia by releasing immature red blood cells, called erythroblasts, from the bone marrow. The overproduction of erythroblasts can cause the liver and spleen to become enlarged, potentially causing liver damage or a ruptured spleen. The emphasis on erythroblast production is at the cost of producing other types of blood cells, such as platelets and other factors important for blood clotting. Since the blood lacks clotting factors, excessive bleeding can be a complication. The destroyed red blood cells release the blood’s red pigment (hemoglobin) which degrades into a yellow substance called bilirubin. Bilirubin is normally produced as red blood cells die, but the body is only equipped to handle a cert
