Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn: Historical and Current State

Melanie E Jackson; Jillian M Baker

doi:10.1016/j.cll.2020.10.009

Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn: Historical and Current State

Clin Lab Med. 2021 Mar;41(1):133-151. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2020.10.009. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Authors

Melanie E Jackson¹, Jillian M Baker²

Affiliations

¹ The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada.
² The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada; Unity Health Toronto (St. Michael's Hospital), 61 Queen Street East, 2nd, Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5C2T2, Canada; University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada. Electronic address: bakerji@smh.ca.

PMID: 33494881
DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2020.10.009

Abstract

Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is an immune-mediated disorder affecting neonates globally, with a range of clinical presentations from severe and life threatening to mild or even asymptomatic. Historically, HDFN has been responsible for a large proportion of perinatal mortality, and, despite advances in diagnosis and management, this morbidity and mortality has not been eradicated. Blood banking techniques and blood transfusion have contributed to improved prophylaxis and management, drastically improving the outcome of newborns with HDFN over the last century.

Keywords: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN); Neonatal anemia; Neonatal hematology; Rhesus disease (RhD-HDFN); Severe hyperbilirubinemia.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Blood Transfusion
Erythroblastosis, Fetal* / diagnosis
Female
Fetus
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy