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Nov 29, 2023
The Rhesus system, also known as the Rh system, is a blood group system that categorizes individuals based on the presence or absence of a specific antigen called the Rh factor on the surface of red blood cells. The Rh factor is named after the Rhesus monkey, in which it was first discovered.
The Rh system is one of the most important blood group systems after the ABO system. It plays a crucial role in blood transfusions and pregnancy. There are two main types of Rh antigens: RhD and RhCE. The RhD antigen is the most clinically significant and is used to determine whether an individual is Rh-positive or Rh-negative.
If a person has the RhD antigen on their red blood cells, they are considered Rh-positive. On the other hand, if they lack the RhD antigen, they are classified as Rh-negative. Approximately 85% of the population is Rh-positive, while the remaining 15% is Rh-negative.
The Rh system becomes particularly important during pregnancy. If an Rh-negative woman conceives a child with an Rh-positive man, there is a risk of Rh incompatibility. This occurs when the mother's immune system recognizes the Rh factor on the fetus's red blood cells as foreign and produces antibodies against it. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the red blood cells of subsequent Rh-positive pregnancies, potentially leading to severe complications such as hemolytic disease of the newborn.
To prevent Rh incompatibility, Rh-negative women who are pregnant with an Rh-positive fetus are typically given a medication called Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) during pregnancy and after delivery. RhIg helps to prevent the mother's immune system from producing antibodies against the Rh factor, reducing the risk of complications in future pregnancies.
In summary, the Rhesus system is a blood group system that determines whether an individual is Rh-positive or Rh-negative based on the presence or absence of the RhD antigen on their red blood cells. It has significant implications in blood transfusions and pregnancy, particularly in preventing Rh incompatibility and its associated complications.
The Rh system is one of the most important blood group systems after the ABO system. It plays a crucial role in blood transfusions and pregnancy. There are two main types of Rh antigens: RhD and RhCE. The RhD antigen is the most clinically significant and is used to determine whether an individual is Rh-positive or Rh-negative.
If a person has the RhD antigen on their red blood cells, they are considered Rh-positive. On the other hand, if they lack the RhD antigen, they are classified as Rh-negative. Approximately 85% of the population is Rh-positive, while the remaining 15% is Rh-negative.
The Rh system becomes particularly important during pregnancy. If an Rh-negative woman conceives a child with an Rh-positive man, there is a risk of Rh incompatibility. This occurs when the mother's immune system recognizes the Rh factor on the fetus's red blood cells as foreign and produces antibodies against it. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the red blood cells of subsequent Rh-positive pregnancies, potentially leading to severe complications such as hemolytic disease of the newborn.
To prevent Rh incompatibility, Rh-negative women who are pregnant with an Rh-positive fetus are typically given a medication called Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) during pregnancy and after delivery. RhIg helps to prevent the mother's immune system from producing antibodies against the Rh factor, reducing the risk of complications in future pregnancies.
In summary, the Rhesus system is a blood group system that determines whether an individual is Rh-positive or Rh-negative based on the presence or absence of the RhD antigen on their red blood cells. It has significant implications in blood transfusions and pregnancy, particularly in preventing Rh incompatibility and its associated complications.
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