ABSTRACT

Summary Lubusky, M., Studnickova, M., Prochazka, M, Simetka, O., Holuskova, I. Fetomaternal haemorrhage Fetomaternal haemorrhage is a condition in which fetal erythrocytes infiltrate maternal circulation. When the physiological barrier between the maternal and the fetal circulation is disrupted, the positive pressure gradient may cause fetal erythrocytes to pass into the maternal circulation. The most clinically significant event during which fetomaternal haemorrhage most often occurs is labor. The incompatibility of erythrocyte antigens between mother and fetus may, as aresult of fetomaternal haemorrhage, lead to the development of alloimmunization of the mother and maternal antibodies may cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. For this reason, in situations where there is a risk of fetomaternal haemorrhage by RhD positive erythrocytes, prevention of RhD alloimmunization is performed by administering anti-D immunoglobulin to RhD negative women. Excessive fetomaternal haemorrhage may put the fetus and newborn at risk of anemia. Keywords fetomaternal haemorrhage • red cell alloimmunization • haemolytic disease • anti-D immunoglobulin