Incompatibility of Mother and Foetus with respect to the Iso-Agglutinogen A and its Antibody

Recent research on the Rh antigen discovered by Landsteiner and Wiener (1940) has provided conclusive evidence pointing to the occurrence of maternal iso-immunization-i.e. the production of antibodies by the mother in response to the presence of corpuscular antigens in the foetus. Maternal iso-imlunization throws new light on the occurrence of neonatal haemolytic anaemias, of stillbirths, and of abortions in sibships containing members so affected. The importance of its contribution to neonatal and foetal death naturally prompts us to ask to what extent: (a) other foetal antigens evoke the production of maternal antibodies; (b) other maternal antibodies may penetrate the placental barrier with lethal or semi-lethal consequences to the foetus or newly born.