For decades, Ohio State has been a recognized center of excellence in treating fetal anemia due to having the most experienced staff in the region.
Fetal anemia is a low red blood cell count in the fetus. Just as children and adults use red blood cells to carry oxygen, so does a fetus. It is difficult for a fetus to grow and develop when it has fewer red blood cells. Eventually, the fetus may show signs of failure if the anemia is severe.
Fetal anemia is caused by antibodies in a mother’s blood or through a fetal infection.
A specialized ultrasound measurement can predict low red blood cell count or anemia in a fetus. Less often, amniocentesis can be used to estimate the level of fetal anemia due to mother's antibodies. If a fetus is found to be very anemic, a transfusion of red blood cells can be given through a narrow needle placed in the umbilical cord, allowing the pregnancy to continue and avoiding prematurity. This is called intrauterine transfusion (IUT).