1992 Volume 6 Issue 5 Pages 437-440
The nationwide surveillance of hemolytic disease of the newborn and acquired hemolytic anemia of childhood was conducted by the authors. 801 newborns with hemolytic disease were registered from 98 institutions between January 1986 and December 1990. The largest number of cases -523, or 65.3%-were attributed to ABO incompatibility, followed by 199 (24.9%) assessed as being due to Rh incompatibility. While the incidence of hemolytic disease of the newborn due to Rh (D) incompatibility has been decreasing thanks to the development of and Rh (D) globulin, there has been a relative increase in the number of cases of Rh (E) incompatibility. The revised diagnostic criteria of hemolytic disease caused by ABO incompatibility were also discussed. 236 cases with acquired hemolytic anemia of childhood were registered from 90 institutions within the same period. Among them, the incidence of hemolytic uremic syndrome was highest : 146 cases (61.8%). And 17 cases (12%) had E. coli 0157 : H7 isolated from the stool. The mortality rate was 5.5%. 38 children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia were registered, and 24 cases (63%) were of the acute type.
