Serological Factors as Possible Causes in Spontaneous Abortions

Abstract

Shortly after the pathogenesis of erythroblastosis fetalis was established, the writer had an opportunity to study the bloods of women having histories of abortions and stillbirths not attributable to erythroblastosis fetalis. It soon became evident that the Rh blood factor played only a comparatively minor role in these cases.²² However, a difference was observed in the blood group of the mother on the one hand and of the father and of the fetus on the other, which could be interpreted as isoimmunition by the blood factors A and B. In these instances the mother’s blood was lacking the blood factors A and B, one of which was present in the father and in the affected fetus. This sort of mating is defined as incompatible in contrast to those compatible matings in which the blood factors of the father and of the mother either are identical or in which the mother carries the dominant blood factor.

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Read June 19, 1942, at the Conference on Abortions Problems sponsored by the National Committee on Maternal Health.

Aided by grants from the Blood Transfusion Association of New York and the National Committee on Maternal Health.