Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn
(HDFN)
Immunohematology Review 481
ABO Rh
Mothers at risk Usually group O Rh neg
First child affected? Yes Not usually
Frequency Common Uncommon
Severity Mild Can be severe
DAT* Weak pos or neg Strong pos
Spherocytes? Yes Rare
Predictable? No Yes (maternal ab screen)
Preventable? No Yes (RhIG)
*Strength of rxn doesn’t correlate with severity of disease.