The ability of maternal antibodies to get into the fetal circulation can lead to a life-threatening condition in which the fetal red blood cells are killed; this condition is known as ___________.

Question

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The condition described is erythroblastosis fetalis, also known as hemolytic disease of the newborn. It occurs when the mother's Rh-negative blood type reacts with the Rh-positive blood of the fetus, leading to the production of antibodies that attack and destroy the fetal red blood cells. This can lead to severe anemia and even death of the fetus or newborn. Lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease, aplastic anemia is a rare disorder in which the body fails to produce enough new blood cells, sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder affecting the shape of red blood cells, and erythemia is not a medical condition.

The Ability of Maternal Antibodies to Get into the Fetal