Rh disease in the context of "Robin Coombs"

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⭐ Core Definition: Rh disease

Rh disease (also known as rhesus isoimmunization, Rh (D) disease, or rhesus incompatibility, and blue baby disease) is a type of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). The term "Rh disease" is commonly used to refer to HDFN as prior to the discovery of anti-Rho(D) immune globulin, it was the most common type of HDFN.The disease ranges from mild to severe, and occurs in the second or subsequent pregnancies of Rh-D negative women when the biological father is Rh-D positive due to the presence of anti-D antibodies (the D antigen being only one of more than 50 in the Rh complex).

Due to several advances in modern medicine HDFN can be prevented by treating the mother during pregnancy and soon after delivery with an injection of anti-Rho(D) immune globulin (Rhoclone, Rhogam, AntiD). With successful mitigation of this disease by prevention through the use of anti-Rho(D) immune globulin, other antibodies are more commonly the cause of HDFN today.

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👉 Rh disease in the context of Robin Coombs

Robert Royston Amos Coombs (9 January 1921 – 25 January 2006) was a British immunologist, co-discoverer of the Coombs test (1945) used for detecting antibodies in various clinical scenarios, such as Rh disease and blood transfusion.

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Rh disease in the context of Immune response

An immune response is a physiological reaction which occurs within an organism in the context of inflammation for the purpose of defending against exogenous factors. These include a wide variety of different toxins, viruses, intra- and extracellular bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and fungi which could cause serious problems to the health of the host organism if not cleared from the body.

In addition, there are other forms of immune response. For example, harmless exogenous factors (such as pollen and food components) can trigger allergy; latex and metals are also known allergens.A transplanted tissue (for example, blood) or organ can cause graft-versus-host disease. A type of immune reactivity known as Rh disease can be observed in pregnant women. These special forms of immune response are classified as hypersensitivity. Another special form of immune response is antitumor immunity.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Immune response ← Robin Coombs ← Adaptative immune response
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Isoimmunization → Hemolytic disease of the newborn → Rh blood group system → Intramuscular injection → Anti-D →