Final answer:
Maternal ITP can lead to the destruction of fetal Rh-positive red blood cells, causing erythroblastosis fetalis or HDN. Secondary antibody responses in subsequent pregnancies can aggravate this condition. Preventative treatment involves administering Rho(D) immune globulin to prevent maternal immune responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maternal Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) can have consequences for the fetus. Maternal anti-Rh antibodies may attack and destroy fetal Rh-positive red blood cells, leading to a condition known as erythroblastosis fetalis or hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). In subsequent pregnancies with an Rh-positive fetus, the mother's immune system can produce a robust secondary response with increased levels of anti-Rh factor IgG antibodies. These antibodies have the capability to cross the placenta and may result in complement-mediated hemolysis of the fetus's red blood cells, potentially causing anemia and leading to inadequate oxygenation of the fetus.
To prevent this condition, Rho(D) immune globulin is administered during and after each pregnancy involving an Rh-positive fetus. This treatment can bind and neutralize any Rh-positive red blood cells that enter the maternal circulation, averting the activation of the maternal immune response that could lead to HDN.