Final answer:
Maternal antibodies associated with neonatal lupus are anti-Ro/SSA and anti autoantibodies. These antibodies transfer from mother to fetus via passive immunity and can cause symptoms such as skin rashes and heart issues in the infant. HDN, involving different antibodies, is another condition illustrating the impact of maternal antibodies, treated with RhoGAM to prevent the immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neonatal lupus is a condition where maternal antibodies are transferred to the fetus, leading to various symptoms including skin rashes and congenital heart block. The maternal antibodies associated with neonatal lupus are anti-Ro/SSA and anti These are autoantibodies, which means they are generated by the mother's immune system against her own proteins but can cross the placenta and affect the fetus.
The presence of these antibodies in both the mother and the infant can be explained by passive immunity, wherein the antibodies produced by the mother's B cells are passed to the infant through the placenta and can remain in the infant's system for several months postpartum.
Erythroblastosis fetalis, also known as hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), is another condition related to maternal antibodies, specifically anti-Rh antibodies. These antibodies can also cross the placenta if there is an Rh factor incompatibility between an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive fetus. However, HDN and neonatal lupus involve different antibodies and mechanisms.
Treatment for HDN involves the administration of RhoGAM, which are anti-Rh antibodies given to the Rh-negative mother during and after pregnancy to prevent the formation of Rh antibodies against fetal red blood cells. This does not treat neonatal lupus, but serves to illustrate how maternal antibodies can impact fetal health.