NEETZoologyBody Fluids and Circulation
A newborn baby is diagnosed with severe anemia and jaundice. Medical investigation reveals that the baby's red blood cells are being destroyed by antibodies that crossed the placenta from the mother's blood. Which of the following parental blood group combinations and maternal history most likely resulted in this condition?
Options
- AMother is Rh ^ -ve , Father is Rh ^ +ve ; this is the mother's first pregnancy.
- BMother is Rh ^ +ve , Father is Rh ^ -ve ; this is the mother's second pregnancy.
- CMother is Rh ^ -ve , Father is Rh ^ -ve ; this is the mother's second pregnancy.
- DMother is Rh ^ -ve , Father is Rh ^ +ve ; this is the mother's second pregnancy.
Correct answer
D. Mother is Rh ^ -ve , Father is Rh ^ +ve ; this is the mother's second pregnancy.
Step-by-step solution
The condition described is erythroblastosis foetalis, which occurs due to Rh incompatibility between the mother and the foetus. For this condition to occur, the mother must be Rh ^ -ve and the foetus must be Rh ^ +ve . For the foetus to inherit the Rh antigen, the father must be Rh ^ +ve . During a first pregnancy with an Rh ^ +ve foetus, the Rh ^ -ve mother is typically not exposed to fetal blood until the time of delivery, so the first child is usually unaffected. Sensitization occurs at birth, leading to the pro