Doença hemolítica do recém-nascido desenvolvida por incompatibilidade sanguínea pelo antígeno Kell

Abstract

Reactions involving blood incompatibility by ABO and Rh factors are already known. In addition to these factors, other antigens cause the activation of the immune

system. The Kell antigen is the second most immunogenic, being one of the major factors in maternal alloimmunization. This work had have the objective to elucidate the main causes of hemolytic disease in newborns due to the incompatibility of the Kell gene, where alloimmunization by Kell will constantly attack the fetus and the main issue to avoid alloimmunization is prenatal care. Hemolytic disease is mainly caused by IgG-type antibodies, which cross the placental barrier and react to erythrocyte antigens, immunologically attacking cells, causing fetal anemia by cell hemolysis. Anti-Kell alloimmunization attacks erythrocyte precursors generating an anemia with low levels of bilirubin, which can become one of the worst prognoses, when not previously identified, the risk increases when not treated, as the continued suppression of erythropoiesis can lead to death. The study of the Kell gene and it’s expression is of great importance to medicine, since by understanding the disease and it’s causes, we can develop forms of treatment, so avoiding an increase in neonatal mortality.