My brothers were born before there was interventive treatment for Hemolytic Disease (HDN). What will the effect of this Rhesus -ve condition be on the lfe expectancy of my brothers.
John
Hi, John.
I'm sorry to hear about the challenges your brothers may have faced. Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), often caused by Rh incompatibility, can range from mild to severe. In cases where mothers are Rh-negative and their babies are Rh-positive, antibodies produced by the mother can cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, leading to anemia.
The potential effects on life expectancy for individuals affected by HDN in the absence of interventive treatment depend largely on the severity of the condition:
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Mild HDN: In mild cases, the baby may not need any treatment, or they may only require phototherapy to treat jaundice.
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Moderate to Severe HDN: Without treatment, moderate to severe cases can lead to:
- Hydrops fetalis: A severe form of HDN which can cause heart failure, respiratory distress, and even stillbirth if not treated.
- Anemia: The body might not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen, leading to symptoms like fatigue and weakness.
- Jaundice: This is caused by the rapid breakdown of red blood cells leading to an increase in bilirubin in the blood.
- Kernicterus: A potentially lethal brain damage condition that can result from high levels of bilirubin.
If your brothers survived the neonatal period and did not suffer from complications like kernicterus, their life expectancy might not be significantly different from that of the general population. However, it's important to understand that every individual is unique, and the effects of HDN can vary widely.