Answer:
Rh antigen is observed
on the surface of RBCs of majority (nearly 80%) of humans. Such individuals are
called Rh positive (and
those individuals where this antigen is absent are called Rh negative .
(a)Both and individuals
are phenotypically normal. The problem in them arises during blood transfusion
and pregnancy.
(i) Incompatibility
During Blood Transfusion The first blood transfusion of blood to the
person with RI-T blood causes no harm because the person
develops anti Rh factors or antibodies in his/her blood.
In second
blood transfusion of blood
to the person, the
already formed anti Rh factors attack and destroy the red blood corpuscles of
the donor.
Incompatibility
During Pregnancy If father's blood is , mother blood
is and the foetus
blood is . it will lead
to a serious problem. Rh antigens of the foetus do not get exposed to the blood of the
mother in the first pregnancy as the two bloods are well separated by the
placenta.
But in the
subsequent foetus, the
anti Rh factors (antibodies) of the mother destroy the foetal red blood
corpuscles due to mixing of blood.
This result
in the Haemolytic Disease of the New Born (HDN), called as erythroblastosis
foetalis. In some cases new born may survive but will be anaemic and may also
suffer with jaundice.
This condition can be
avoided by administering anti-Rh antibodies to the mother immediately after the
delivery of the first child.
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