Abstract

NEONATES AND MOTHERS’ BLOOD INCOMPATIBLITY PREVALENCE AT SHOUQ AL-KAMEESH HOPSITAL, LIBYA

Fathia Mohamed M. Alfasal*, Yusuf Elmahdi Moftah Alrmali Younis K. Younis and Ahmed Musbah M. Elnimawi

ABSTRACT

The most common cause of blood group incompatibility results from the ABO blood group system, with incompatibility present in up to 20% of infants. However, because anti-ABO antibodies are predominantly IgM class, most are not effectively transported across the placenta. In addition, the A and B antigens are not well developed on fetal red blood cells. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of neo-maternal ABO blood group incompatibility and to assess any relationship with neonatal jaundice (NNJ) among motherneonate pairs in Al-khoms, Libya. A prospective study was conducted among neonates attended (in-patients and out-patients) at the Shouq Al-kameesh hospital Al-khoms, Libya from April 2019 to March 2020. A total of 294 babies were born/admitted during the period of study. The male-female ratio was 1:0.87. The majority of the babies were aged between 1-30 days. Average birth weights of neonates were 3.2kgs. 90.10% ladies delivered in term. Blood group O had the highest frequencies among mothers and neonates 58% and 57.5%, respectively. Although 28% of the mother-neonate pairs were ABO blood group incompatible, only 20.74% of the incompatible neonates had a positive cord blood Direct Coomb’s Test and only 6% of the neonates developed jaundice. There was a strong and positive association between ABO neo-maternal blood group incompatibility. ABO neo-maternal incompatibility is common and it has a strong positive association with NeoNatal Jaundice. Rh factor in-compatibility is more common and more severe between the mother and babies. There is a need for routine neonatal ABO screening, especially where jaundice exists.

Keywords: ABO blood group, ABO neo-maternal incompatibility, neonatal jaundice, Libya.