OT: Antgen E (long)

Julia,

What should be a happy time for your daughter and your family has turned into a tense and very scary situation. Your daughter sure is lucky to have a mom like you to lean on in during this difficult time.

The RH blood group systems consist of several antigens (eg, D, C, c, E, e) with D being the one most associated with the RH factor --- so it sounds like it may be another kind of RH incompatibility?

Do post back and keep us updated. >My daughter saw her OB the other day and came home in tears. There=20

Julia, To add to the below, often it doesn't turn up in the first pregnancy, it can be treated I'm sure, it could involve having serial amnios or blood work to follow the titres. Her OB will explain more of this to her and her husband. Sometimes it also requires that the baby gets a blood transfusion before birth. I've assisted in these as a nurse support part of the team. They sound scarey, but can help prolong the pregnancy to getting the baby closer to term and not have a premature delivery. It all sounds scarey, encourage her to write down questions and take notes during the consult. If not happy, she can always get a second opinion. Good luck to her in this difficult time.

-- Sandi in New Westminster B.C.

Knowing nothing about the problem, I will just send my assurance of holding you all close in our prayers. God bless, Polly

What should be a happy time for your daughter and your family has turned into a tense and very scary situation. Your daughter sure is lucky to have a mom like you to lean on in during this difficult time.

The RH blood group systems consist of several antigens (eg, D, C, c, E, e) with D being the one most associated with the RH factor --- so it sounds like it may be another kind of RH incompatibility?

Do post back and keep us updated. >My daughter saw her OB the other day and came home in tears. There

Hi Julia, I hope that I can help to explain some of your concerns about the E antigen and your daughter's acquired antibody to it. This, being her second pregnancy, she would probably have been exposed to the E antigen during the first or through a blood transfusion .

If acquired through the first pregnancy:

Your daughter is E Neg (e+e+); your grand-daughter, Emily is E+eNeg having inherited the Egene from her father. The father's genotype will be tested in the lab for the presence of E (either single of double: EE or Ee) If EE, then the new baby has inherited E. If Ee, then there is a 50% chance that this baby is /or is not E Pos.

The lab will titre the strength of your daughter's anti-E and will monitor this for changes during the pregnancy.

Julia, with the number of blood group antibodies and combinations possible, this particular one is an 'easy' one. You should also set your mind at rest because this problem is not inherited from either you or her biological father.

Write to me if you have any more questions that I can answer for you. I worked in a hospital blood bank for 20 years and have performed these particular tests many times over - while I no longer remember all the percentages of the various genotypes, I do still remember the consequences.

My daughter saw her OB the other day and came home in tears. There appears to be a problem with the pregnancy and I don't yet know how to help her through the crisis or even what the entire problem is. So I know we will be going through a rough road from here on out. It seems that her pliminory blood work came back showing the 'Antgen-E' antibody. The dr. told her this was a serious problem that immediately has put both her and the baby at risk. She will be seeing another specialist in 2 weeks that specializes in heredity disorders. From the little I understand this antibody causes a rejection similar to the RH factor, and can cause an oxygen problem for the baby during development and then cause permanent brain damage. She was not to sure since so much happened all at one time. Right now trying to reassure her is more important than anything else. I know I will definitely be talking with my hematologist about this asap. As it stands right now her regular OB will be turning her pregnancy over to this other specialist and she will be monitored at Hutzel Women's hospital in Detroit that specializes in difficult or extremely high risk pregnancies. This 'Antigen-E' from what she has told me also puts her at a very high personal risk. Right now however she doesn't really want anyone in the family or our friends to know about this. She just can't handle it at all. Has anyone here had to deal with this problem or have any experience or information that you can share here to help me to reassure her until we find out more information about this problem. They checked her out for the other bleeding disorder that I have that is hereditary. That one didn't show up. I can't help but think somehow this problem she is having is related to the bleeding disorder that I have and could have passed on to her offspring. The OB has already arranged for genetic counseling for her and her DH. Fortunately, however an unknown, is why, fortunately, that my DGD Emily does not have the condition. Any advice or thoughts from you all would be greatly appreciated. First thing tomorrow I will be on the horn trying to find out more. Jerry has already been on the internet trying to find out what ever we can and so tonight and tomorrow I will be going over a lot of that information. I just had to get on here as soon as I got home to share both the good news and the not as good news. thanks bunches juliasb

I wish I could say something to help but I know nothing. I will keep your daughter and her child in my prayers is all I can do *hugs to you all*

((((((HUGS)))))) and prayers on the way for you all. This is a scary time. I hope you get better news soon, about the possibilities.

Keep us posted when you can, and know well all feel for you in what should be a time of happy anticipation.

Sending thoughts and prayers that you and your family will find the strength you need to deal with whatever comes up during this pregnancy. Hugs, Diana