All issues > Volume 31(9); 1988

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1988;31(9):1105-1113. Published online September 30, 1988.

ABO Gene Frequency in ABO Hemolytic Disease of Newborn.

Young Mi Hong¹, Keun Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Received: January 13, 1988;  Accepted: March 24, 1988.

Abstract

ABO hemolytic disease in newborn due to ABO incompatibility between mother and infant is one of common cause of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and early detection has been emphasized due to its possible neurologic sequelae. Many studies reported prevalence difference of ABO hemolytic disease in various races, which could be ascribed to different frequency of ABO genes in races. From Feb. 1986 to May 1987 full term newborns were screened and 447 cases with jaundice were studied. 1) ABO compatible cases were 357 (79.9%) and ABO incompatible cases 90 (20.1%). O—A was 52 cases, and O—B 38 cases. 2) Mean appearance time of jaundice was significantly earlier in ABO incompatible group than ABO compatible group. 3) Reticulocyte count was significantly higher in ABO incompatible group than ABO compatible guoup. 4) The frequency of A gene was 0.274, B 0.195 and O 0.531. ABO gene frequency of Korean was similar to that of the Japanese. But when it was compared to American, A and B gene were more frequent. 5) Incidence of ABO incompatible pregnancy was 20.1% 6) Incidence of ABO hemolytic disease due to ABO incompatibility was 1.36%. It was similar to the Japanese and the white, but significantly lower than the black. In conclusion, the difference of ABO gene frequency in various races cannot exj^ain the difference of ABO hemolytic disease incidence, especially between Korean and Caucasian or black races.

Keywords :ABO Gene frequency, Hemolytic disease