Neonatal hemolytic disease due to anti-Diego^a antibody: a case report

The Diego^a antigen commonly occurs in certain Asian and South American Indian populations. In general, hemolysis caused by anti-Diego^a antigen is not severe, and exchange transfusion is rarely needed. Here, we report a neonate with moderate hemolytic disease caused by anti-Diego^a antigen in the Baoji area of China.

A 39-week gestation male newborn of Han nationality was delivered by second cesarean section because of scarred uterus. The newborn's birth weight was 3700 g with an Apgar score of 9. Four hours after delivery, transcutaneous bilirubin test revealed a level of 17 mg/dl. After 23 hours, the neonate developed anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Bacterium, virus and other pathogens, as well as tests for arcuate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were all negative. Direct antiglobulin test of the neonate was positive. Diego^a antigens of the baby and his father were positive, while his mother was negative. The newborn was successfully cured with phototherapy and one-dose intravenous injection of human albumin.

It is important to consider and test for the anti-Diego^a antibody in cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn of the Han ethnicities of China.