[Hemolytic disease of newborn due to ABO incompatibility].

Hemolytic disease of newborn due to ABO-incompatibility is the most common cause of hemolytic diseases of newborns, its occur due to ABO blood group incompatibility between the mother and infant. The aim of study is to identify the incidence and severity of jaundice in patients with ABO incompatibility. Fifty four babies with ABO incompatibility admitted to AlKhansah maternity and children teaching hospital (in Mosul were studied between the first of January and end of May 2005). Thirty five were males (68.8%), and 19 cases were females (35.2%), their age was 1-10 days, the majority were fullterms 44 cases (81.5%) .and in most of them the weight was> 2.5kg. Family history of jaundice or treatment was negative in (59.2%). Twenty three cases presented during the second and third day of life and jaundice was the hallmark of the disease found in 100% followed by poor feeding, pallor, opisthotonos and hepatosplenomegaly. Serum bilirubin level more than 323 mol/L (> 19 mg/dl) was in (40.8%) hemoglobin level between 100-140 g/L was found in (53.7%) reticulocyte count between (5-9%) was found in (63%) and direct Coomb’s test was positive in (5.5%) of the patients. Thirty two patients (59.2%’) treated with phototherapy and in most of them 18 patients (56.2%) the duration of phototherapy was 24-48 hr, while 22 cases (40.8%) were treated by exchange transfusion and in most of them 16 cases the exchange transfusion was done once. Total serum bilirubin was lowered by 25-50% immediately after the exchange transfusion in 13 cases (59%). The prognosis was good for the most of the patients 46 cases (85.3%) and they were discharged well from the hospital.