Hemolytic disease of the newborn due to minor blood group incompatibility: Sibling cases

Abstract

Hemolytic disease of the newborn is mostly caused by the hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes by maternal and placental antibodies. Antigens in this group are Kell, Duffy, Kidd, MNSs and the E, e, C, c found in the Rh system. They are responsible for 3-5% of hemolytic disease of the newborn. In cases of minor blood group incompatibility, clinical picture may vary from subclinical hemolysis findings to active hemolysis and from blood clotting to neonatal jaundice. Here we present two sibling cases with multiple minor blood group (c, Kell, Cw) incompatibilities of whom the first one was diagnosed two years ago as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and undergone exchange transfusion and ultimately diagnosed as minor blood group incompatibility after the diagnosis of the second sibling.