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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

A Mouse Model of Vascularized Heterotopic Spleen Transplantation for Studying Spleen Cell Biology and Transplant Immunity
Published on: June 11, 2019
Fetal splenic rupture following transfusion
P W Whitecar1, N D Depcik-Smith, R A Strauss
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 214 MacNider Building, CB#7516, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7516, USA. paul_whitecar@med.unc.edu
Background:
Splenic rupture in the newborn is a rare complication in erythroblastosis fetalis. There are no reports of splenic rupture in the fetus affected by hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Case:
A 41-year-old gravida 3, para 2-0-0-2 with severe rhesus alloimmunization was managed with serial intrauterine transfusions resulting in fetal death after the fourth procedure. Autopsy findings revealed intra-abdominal clotted blood and splenic capsular defects consistent with splenic rupture.
Conclusion:
Fetal splenic rupture might occur in hemolytic disease of the newborn associated with splenomegaly. Acute hemodynamic changes with increased intra-abdominal pressure from intrauterine transfusion might precipitate splenic rupture. (Obstet Gynecol 2001;97:824-5.
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