title: A correlation between severe haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and maternal ABO blood group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse anti-D quantification levels and frequency of intrauterine transfusion (IUT), per maternal ABO blood group.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Maternally derived red cell allo-antibodies can target fetal red cell antigens in utero leading to haemolytic disease and fetal anaemia. When a clinically significant allo-antibody is formed the priority is ascertaining the risk to the fetus and maternal ABO blood groups are not considered relevant.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 10-year retrospective, observational study carried out on women referred for anti-D quantification (n = 1106), and women whose fetuses required an IUT to treat fetal anaemia (n = 62) due to anti-D, in the Republic of Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to the overall incidence of RhD allo-immunisation by blood group, women of blood group A were more likely to require IUT compared with those who were blood group O (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is known that ABO feto-maternal compatibility can influence the incidence and level of red cell allo-antibodies in pregnancy; however, it does not account for the significantly high rate of severe haemolytic disease requiring IUT seen in blood group A women.
authors: Red Cell Immunohaematology Laboratory, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Doyle
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Quigley
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lambert
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Crumlish
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Walsh
authors: P
authors: P
authors: McParland
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Culliton
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Murphy
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000328:Adult; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin
keywords: ABO blood group; haemolytic disease; intrauterine transfusion