| ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn | Erythroblastosis foetalis due to maternal-foetal incompatibility with respect to an antigen of the ABO blood group; the foetus possesses A or B antigen which is lacking in the mother, and the mother produces immune antibody which causes haemolysis of foetal erythrocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| fetus | <biology, embryology, obstetrics> A developing unborn offspring of an animal that gives birth to its young (as opposed to laying eggs). From approximately three months after conception the offspring take on a recognisable form (all parts in place, etc.). In human development, the period after the seventh or eighth week of pregnancy is the foetal period. (12 Nov 1997) |
| rh isoimmunization | The process by which foetal rh+ erythrocytes enter the circulation of an rh- mother during delivery, causing her to produce IgG antibodies, which can cross the placenta and destroy the erythrocytes of rh- foetuses in subsequent pregnancies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| isoimmunization | Development of a significant titre of specific antibody as a result of antigenic stimulation with material contained on or in the red blood cells of another individual of the same species; e.g., isoimmunization is likely to occur when an Rh-negative person is treated with a transfusion of Rh-positive blood from another human being, or an Rh-negative woman has a pregnancy in which the foetus inherits Rh-positive red blood cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ABO antigens | <haematology, immunology> A system of genetically determined antigens (proteins) located on the surface of the erythrocyte. The presence of these specific antigens gives a blood its unique properties. Because of the antigen differences existing between individuals, blood groups are significant in blood transfusions, maternal-foetal incompatibilities (erythroblastosis foetalis), tissue and organ transplantation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| ABO blood group | <haematology> The major human blood type system which describes the oligosaccharide glycoprotein antigens found on the surface of human blood cells. According to the type of antigen present, a person may be assigned a blood type of A, B, AB or O. A second type of antigen, the Rh factor, renders a positive or negative blood type. The ABO blood group system is important because it determines who can donate blood to or accept blood from whom. Type A or AB blood will cause an immune reaction in people with type B blood and type B and AB blood will cause a reaction in people with type A blood. Conversely, type O blood has no A or B antigens, so people with type O blood are universal donors. And since AB blood already produces both antigens, people who are type AB can accept any of the other blood types without suffering an immune reaction. (04 Jul 1999) |
| ABO incompatibility | <haematology> A type of blood incompatibility, found rarely. Transfusion reactions may occur as a result of such incompatibility. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bullous impetigo of newborn | Usually, widely disseminated bullous lesions appearing soon after birth, caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Synonym: impetigo neonatorum, pemphigus gangrenosus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn | A disease seen especially in premature neonates with respiratory distress; characterised postmortem by atelectasis and alveolar ducts lined by an eosinophilic membrane; also associated with reduced amounts of lung surfactant. Synonym: hyaline membrane syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pleural effusion in newborn | <radiology> Chylothorax most common cause of large effusion, erythroblastosis foetalis, Turner syndrome, congestive heart failure, infantile polycystic kidneys, wet-lung disease, hypervolaemia (idiopathic or iatrogenic), oesophageal tear, enteric cyst, obstructed pulmonary veins (12 Dec 1998) |
| congenital epulis of newborn | A congenital benign nodular tumour of the alveolar ridge, of unknown histogenesis; histologically, it is composed of large cells with a granular cytoplasm similar to that of a granular cell tumour (myoblastoma). (05 Mar 2000) |
| postnatal pit of the newborn | It marks the site where the embryonic spinal cord attaches to the skin. Synonym: postnatal pit of the newborn. (05 Mar 2000) |
| haemolytic anaemia of newborn | <haematology> A condition which develops in the foetus due to an incompatibility between the mother's blood type (RH factor) and the baby's. Maternal antibodies, which enter the foetal circulation during delivery attack the baby's red blood cells leading to haemolysis (rupture of the cells). Symptoms include an infant with an enlarged liver and spleen, swelling, jaundice and anaemia. (27 Sep 1997) |
| haemolytic disease of newborn | <haematology> A condition which develops in the foetus due to an incompatibility between the mother's blood type (RH factor) and the baby's. Maternal antibodies, which enter the foetal circulation during delivery attack the baby's red blood cells leading to haemolysis (rupture of the cells). Symptoms include an infant with an enlarged liver and spleen, swelling, jaundice and anaemia. (27 Sep 1997) |
| haemolytic disease of the newborn | Abnormal breakup of red blood cells in the foetus or newborn. This is usually due to antibodies made by the mother directed against the baby's red cells. It is typically caused by rh incompatibility, that is differences between the mother and baby uinvolving the rh blood group. (12 Dec 1998) |