Question

What complications will arise if the blood of an ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ person is transfused to an ${ R }{ h }{ - }{ ve }$ person and vice versa?

Answer 1

Everyone has a specific blood group. Our immune system can easily detect between self and foreign cells. If foreign cells are mixed with self cells, the body will not accept it and do oppose it.

Complete step by step answer:
If a person receives blood which is not compatible or the same to the person’s blood i.e if the blood of an ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ person is transfused to an ${ R }{ h }{ - }{ ve }$ person, our body will produce antibodies which will destroy the donor blood cells. This process causes a transfusion reaction. The immune system destroys the foreign cells by making them burst.
Blood is classified in two ways. First, it is classified into ABO, blood type, and secondly, it is classified based on the Rh factor. If the Rh factor is present in the blood, the blood group is called to be ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ and if Rh factor is absent in the blood, the blood group is called to be ${ R }{ h }{ - }{ ve }$.
When red blood cells are destroyed, the process is known as hemolysis.
If the mother is ${ R }{ h }{ - }{ ve }$ but developing foetus is ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$, for mother immune system ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ blood cells are foreign substances. This will not harm the baby in first pregnancy but later in subsequent frequency, if foetal blood is ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ , it will harm the foetus red blood cells as antibodies can pass through the placenta to the foetus.
So, if the blood of an ${ R }{ h }{ + }{ ve }$ person is transfused to an ${ R }{ h }{ - }{ ve }$ person and vice versa transfusion reaction takes place.

Note: Rh factor is also known as the Rhesus factor which is present outside red blood cells. They are made up of protein. The Rhesus protein name was coined due to the presence of this protein in the Rhesus monkey.