In the event of maternal-fetal incompatibility of the rhesus system, the child of __________ is likely to need a blood transfusion.
A) the first pregnancy
B) subsequent pregnancies
C) both the first and subsequent pregnancies
D) neither the first nor the subsequent pregnancies

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maternal-fetal incompatibility of the rhesus system occurs when a woman, who is Rh-negative, carrying a fetus who is Rh-positive, thereby creating a potential immunologic conflict between them. During the first pregnancy, the mother's immune system may not have had time to develop an immune response to the Rh antigen on the fetal red blood cells. However, during subsequent pregnancies, the mother's immune system has already created antibodies in response to the Rh antigen in the first pregnancy, which can cross the placenta and attack the fetal red blood cells. Depending on the level of fetal red blood cell destruction by maternal Rh antibodies, a blood transfusion may be required for subsequent pregnancies.

In the Event of Maternal-Fetal Incompatibility of the Rhesus System