title: Anti-K1 (Kell) Antibody Expressed in Maternal Breastmilk: A Case Report of a Neonate with Multiple Intrauterine Transfusions and Postnatal Exposure to Kell Antibody in Maternal Breastmilk.
abstract: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn is a common consideration in newborn medicine, especially among the jaundiced. Maternal breastmilk provides numerous benefits to the infant, including nutrition and immunologic factors. Here, we present an infant who received three intrauterine transfusions for anemia secondary to anti-K1 (Kell), anti-C, and anti-e antibodies and whose maternal breastmilk tested positive for anti-Kell antibodies. The infant required another transfusion at 4 weeks of life for anemia. We review the pathophysiology of anti-Kell antibodies, the immunology of breast milk, and the intersection of these two topics.
authors.affiliation: Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Jackson, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0744-2130
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: DeMoss
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asfour
authors.affiliation: Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Jackson, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hersey