Jonathan Bland

Pathophysiology BIO 1015 S1

Professor Lori McGowan
Blood Groups and Rh factor Incompatibility
February 28, 2011

A complete Blood Group breakdown.

Blood Group

Antigens

Antibodies

AB Rh+

A, B and Rh

None

AB Rh -

A and B

A Rh+

A and Rh

A Rh -

B Rh+

B and Rh

B Rh -

0 Rh+

Rh

0 Rh -

None

Can give blood to

AB Rh+

Can receive blood

from
AB Rh+
AB Rh A Rh+
A Rh -

AB Rh - B Rh A Rh - 0 Rh -

None (Can develop Rh AB Rh antibodies)

AB Rh+

A Rh+
AB Rh+

A Rh+
A Rh 0 Rh+
0 Rh -

A Rh A Rh+
AB Rh AB Rh+

A Rh 0 Rh -

B Rh+
AB Rh+

B Rh+
B Rh 0 Rh+
0 Rh-

A
(Can develop Rh
antibodies)

B RhB Rh+
AB RhAB Rh+

B Rh 0 Rh -

A and B

0 Rh+
A Rh+

AB Rh+ 0 Rh+
B Rh+ 0 Rh -

AB Rh+
AB Rh A Rh+
A Rh -

B Rh+
B Rh O Rh+
O Rh -

B
(Can develop Rh
antibodies)
A

A and B (Can develop

Rh antibodies)

0 Rh 0 Rh+
B Rh B Rh+

0 Rh -

In the year 1901, an Austrian by the name of Karl Landsteiner discovered human blood
groups, and he discovered a way to make blood transfusions safer. He found out that all blood
types A, B, AB, O, have both positive and negative RH factors. That if you are given blood with
the opposing Rh factor your red blood cells will begin to agglutination or clump together. This
is dangerous because the agglutinated red blood cells break after a while and their contents
leak out and become toxic. The agglutinated red cells can clog blood vessels and stop the
circulation of the blood to various parts of the body. The agglutinated red blood cells also crack
and its contents leak out in the body. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin which becomes
toxic when outside the cell. This can have fatal consequences for the patient. (NobelPrize.org,
2001) People with blood group O Rh- are called universal donors and people with blood group
AB RH+ are called universal recipients.
Rh incompatibility is a condition that develops when a pregnant woman has Rh-

negative blood and the baby in her womb has Rh-positive blood. (Lee, 2009) When a woman
becomes pregnant for the first time she may be unaware that the fetus she is carrying has a
different Rh-factor than she. The infant is usually a healthy infant pending a normal pregnancy.
When the mother gets pregnant a second time she has had time to build antibodies in her
blood and when the placenta blood is transferred to the mother the fetal cells are treated as a
foreign substance. These anti-Rh antibodies may cross the placenta into the developing baby,
where they destroy the babys circulating red blood cells. (Lee, 2009). This incompatibility can
be more serious when it leads to hemolytic disease of the (erythro-blastosis fetalis). (Gould,
2006)

With erythro-blastosis fetalis has signs and symptoms which include, anemia, edema
(swelling of under the skin), enlarged liver and or spleen, hydrops (fluid throughout the body's
tissues, including in the spaces containing the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs), and
newborn jaundice (a yellowish pigmentation of the skin). There are tests to confirm this
problem, complete blood counts (CBC), bilirubin levels (liver), and blood typing. Treatments
after birth depending on severity, transfusion, if its ABO incompatibility treatment includes:
Drugs to treat allergic reactions such as antihistamines, drugs to treat swelling, IV fluids, and
medication to raise blood pressure if it drops to low. If you have Rh incompatibility symptoms
include low muscle tone, developmental delay, increased amounts of amniotic fluid and
jaundice. Testing includes a direct Coombs tests, bilirubin, and signs of RBC destruction in the
infants blood. Since Rh incompatibility is almost completely preventable with the use of
RhoGAM prevention remains the best treatment. Treatment of the already affected infant
depends on the severity of the condition. Treatment includes aggressive hydration and
phototherapy using bilirubin lights. A child can fully recover from mild Rh incompatibility.
As precise as medical professionals have made identifying blood groups in modern times
mistakes still happen and lives are put at risk when dealing with blood transfusions. Mothers
need to be more aware of their infants and themselves in pregnancy.

Bibliography
Gould, B. E. (2006). Pathophysiology for the Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: W.B.
Sauders.

Lee, K. G. (2009, Dec 17). Rh Incompatibility. Retrieved Feb 28, 2011, from MedlinePlus:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001600.htm

NobelPrize.org. (2001, Dec 3). Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Transfusions. Retrieved Feb 28, 2011,
from Noberlprize.org: http://nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/landsteiner/readmore.html