erythroblastosis fetalis

noun

erythroblastosis fe·​ta·​lis -fi-ˈta-ləs 

: a hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn that occurs when the immune system of an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies to an antigen in the blood of an Rh-positive fetus which cross the placenta and destroy fetal erythrocytes and that is characterized by an increase in circulating erythroblasts and by jaundice

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, fetal erythroblastosis

First Known Use

circa 1934, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

erythroblastosis fetalis

noun

eryth·​ro·​blas·​to·​sis fe·​ta·​lis

i-ˌrith-rə-ˌblas-ˈtō-səs-fi-ˈtal-əs

: a disease of fetuses and newborn babies that occurs when the system of an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies which destroy the red blood cells of an Rh-positive fetus

Medical Definition

erythroblastosis fetalis

noun

erythroblastosis fe·​ta·​lis -fi-ˈtal-əs 

: a hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn that is characterized by an increase in circulating erythroblasts and by jaundice and that occurs when the immune system of an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies to an antigen in the blood of an Rh-positive fetus which cross the placenta and destroy fetal red blood cells

called also hemolytic disease of the newborn, Rh disease