[Incidence, laboratory diagnosis and serologic prediction of hemolytic disease of newborn infants due to ABO incompatibility]

Abstract

The frequency of the haemolytic disease of the newborn due to ABO-incompatibility (ABO-HDN), requiring treatment, is with approximately 5% of all hyperbilirubinemias in newborns lower than usually expected. Contrary to common conception the serologic diagnosis of ABO-HDN by means of the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is possible with satisfactory accuracy. The enormous laboratory burden of IgG-anti-A, -B testing during pregnancy is in poor conformity with clinically demonstrable illness. This discrepancy is due to the rarity of true ABO incompatibilities and not to the ineffectiveness of laboratory investigations.