Question

When an rh-negative mother has been sensitized and is pregnant with an rh-positive fetus, what happens to the fetus?

a. bilirubin deficiency
b. plasma volume depletion
c. profound red cell hemolysis
d. nothing, this is normal?

Answer 1

The correct answer is "profound red cell hemolysis"

An Rh negative mother that has been sensitized means that the mother developed anti-Rh antibodies therefore these antibodies will attack the red blood cells of the Rh positive fetus as this fetus has the Rh antigen on his or her red blood cell. This will cause profound red cell hemolysis.