The Rôle of a Presumed Serum Protein in the Pathogenesis of Erythroblastosis Fetalis

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Abstract
The enhancing properties of human serum on the action of immune antibodies, anti-Rh, ariti-A and anti-B were studied in serums of various age groups. The following serums were examined: 41 of newborns, 11 of infants up to 6 months of age, 10 of infants aged 6 to 18 months, 13 of adults, 13 of pregnant women and 5 of adults with hepatic disorders. Umbilical serums and serums of infants up to 6 months of age were found to be devoid of enhancing properties on the ag-glutination of immune antibodies. Serums of infants aged 6 months and over, as well as of healthy adults, pregnant women and patients with hepatic disorders, have been found to enhance the action of various immune antibodies. The property of serum to enhance the agglutination of immune antibodies appears to be the basis of the "conglutination test." A serum protein, called X-protein, formed presumably in the serum of newborns shortly after delivery, has been suggested as the precipitating factor in the pathogenesis of erythro-blastosis fetalis. From the results of the present study, it may be concluded that there is no evidence of the presumed role of such a serum factor in the pathogenesis of hemolytic disease of the newborn.