Fetal - maternal hemorrhage: A comparison of two cases

Abstract

Almost all pregnancies have only a small amount of fetal blood in maternal circulation. In some rare cases, massive fetal-maternal hemorrhage can result in rapid fetal hemodynamic collapse, leading to severe fetal morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, fetal – maternal hemorrhage is rarely diagnosed prenatally because clinical manifestations are often nonspecific, subtle, and difficult to identify at the time of the event. In this article, we present two cases of large fetal-maternal hemorrhage which were proven by the Kleihaure-Betke test to highlight the difference between nonspecific initial manifestations and the outcome of each case. Moreover, we would like to emphasize the importance of early detection and timely treatment to prevent potentially devastating complications of this condition.