Rh incompatibility

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Rh incompatibility

People without Rh factor on the surface of their blood cells are Rh-negative and have Rh incompatibility with blood that is Rh-positive. This incompatibility means that when exposed to Rh-positive blood more than once, the immune systems of people with Rh-negative blood produce antibodies to destroy the Rh-positive blood cells.

Pregnancy and blood transfusions are the two most common ways that a person with Rh-negative blood can be exposed to Rh-positive blood.

In a woman with Rh-negative blood who has been exposed at least once to Rh factor (usually from a previous pregnancy), this immune system response can cause serious problems during a future pregnancy if the fetus has Rh-positive blood. The mother's immune system produces Rh antibodies that cross the placenta and attack the fetal blood cells. This can be prevented by giving the mother an injection of antibodies, called RhoGAM.

People requiring blood transfusions have Rh testing and are given only compatible blood.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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