QuestionMy Daughter-in-law is 34 weeks pregnant. She told me yesterday that they were taking the baby..I think with induction, at 36 weeks because of Antigen E. I do not understand what antigen E can do to the baby. Both of the parents are positive for Hep C, does this have any bearing on this??
AnswerDear Mary,
The e-antigen is a really complex and difficult thing to understand - and also to try to explain, so bear with me. The e-antigen is part of the Rh component - the part that indicates positive or negative blood type. Many people who have tested positive for e-antigen do so because they have had a blood transfusion or have had a pregnancy and were exposed to either tranfused blood or blood from a developing baby which was not like their own - causing the body to attach an antigen on the red blood cells. The body then has kind of an allergic reaction to that antigen, and will produce an antibody to fight it. If the mother's blood and the baby's blood are not the same - in a significant way, there can be some real issues. I cannot find any direct information on fetal effects caused specifically by the e-antigen. However, I would strongly suspect this is a situation very similar to Rh incompatibility.
Rh incompatibility occurs only if the mother is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive. In most cases, development of antibodies (sensitization) can be prevented, but if antibodies are formed, they will cross the placenta and can cause serious damage to the red blood cells of an Rh-positive baby. The antibodies already in the mother's blood could attack the baby's red blood cells. This can cause the baby to have anemia, jaundice, or more serious problems.
The fact that your daughter-in-law has Hepatitis C may be related to this in that, however she was exposed to the hepatitis may have been the way that the e-antigen was acquired as well.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
