LASIK Health Chat Live NOW! Considering LASIK surgery? Free live Q&A with Dr. Omar Awad now. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Maternal (Expert Forum)
K antibodies during pregnancy
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
K antibodies during pregnancy
by Fiona-Macdonald, May 24, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Fiona Macdonald on May 24, 1999 at 16:58:15
I have K antibodies in my blood. Can anyone explain the relevance of this? What effects might this have on my baby, either before or after birth? If the father is K-negative, are risks greater or less?
Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on May 24, 1999 at 22:44:19
Dear Fiona Macdonald:
K antibodies are likely Kell antibodies. They have the ability to attack the red blood cells of babies that carry the Kell antigen.
If the husband does not carry the antigen, then he cannot pass it to the baby. Since mothers often have acquired the antibodies from transfusion in the past and are Kell negative themselves, this means the baby is at no risk. A heterozygote husband passes the antigen one half the time.
The levels of antibody in blood are followed during pregnancy and if necessary the amniotic fluid is studied to determine if the antibody is affecting the baby.
Keywords: Kell antibodies, pregnancy
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your healthcare provider.
Member Comments
by nono11, Aug 13, 2009 03:03PM
A related discussion, confused antibodies was started.
