Feto-maternal haemorrhage as a cause of fetal morbidity and mortality.
Massive feto-maternal haemorrhage is a cause of significant fetal morbidity and mortality, but is often overlooked because screening for fetal erythrocytes in the maternal circulation has not been a routine procedure in stillbirths, fetal distress or neonatal anaemia; there are few recognized clinical symptoms or signs, or histopathological features. This report covers three cases. A screening blood test in the last month of pregnancy could be of value in detecting feto-maternal haemorrhage before irreversible damage to the fetus occurs.
D000328:Adult; D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000209:etiology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000209:etiology; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third