Rare combination of alloantibodies causing hemolytic disease of the newborn – Challenge for identification

Abstract

Abstract Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) refers to the destruction of the fetal and newborn red cells by maternal red cell antibodies specific for paternally inherited antigens on fetal red cells or erythroid precursors.[1] ABO-incompatibility is the most common cause of HDN. Rh-negative mothers can be alloimmunized with Rh-positive fetus. Prophylactic Rh immunoglobulin use has greatly reduced the HDN due to Rh incompatibility. Alloimmunization can also occur due to other clinically significant minor blood group antigens such as E, c, C, k, KP(a), Js(a), Js(b), Jk(a), Jk(b), Fy(a), Fy(b), S, s, and U. Multiple alloantibodies in mothers’ blood can pose a difficult challenge for identification and finding compatible blood for exchange transfusion. We report a case of HDN due to multiple antibodies and a rare combination of anti-c and anti-Jkb, challenges associated with the identification, confirmation, and finding of compatible blood units.