What is HDFN?
Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) occurs when a baby’s red blood cells (RBCs) break down quickly—a process known as hemolysis.
Why does HDFN occur?
HDFN occurs because of a mismatch—an incompatibility—between a mother’s and her baby’s blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and/or Rhesus (Rh) factor (positive or negative) during pregnancy. The major antigens on human RBCs are the O, A and B antigens.
RBCs occasionally have another antigen, which is a protein called the Rh(D) antigen. In fact, the RhD antigen is either present or absent in human RBCs. In patients who are Rh negative, the Rh(D) antigen is not present on their RBCs, and their blood group is called RhD negative. In contrast, in patients who are Rh positive, the Rh(D) antigen is present on their RBCs, and their blood group is known as RhD positive.
The evolution of HDFN treatment
With the use of anti–D immunoprophylaxis, HDFN linked to ABO incompatibility and other alloantibodies has become a major cause of this disorder in Western nations.
The administration of Rh immunoglobulin to RhD-negative mothers throughout their pregnancy and shortly after the birth of an RhD-positive infant has dramatically decreased the incidence of Rh-hemolytic disease.
Read more about HDFN signs and symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment of HDFN today
Prior to giving birth, a mother can undergo certain tests to check for the presence of HDFN, including blood tests, ultrasound, and amniocentesis. In the last procedure, a small amount of amniotic fluid is collected and examined in the laboratory to screen for the presence of any abnormalities
Occasionally, an intrauterine transfusion (IUT) is performed. During an IUT, a needle is inserted into a vein in the umbilical cord and the baby receives new RBCs to prevent the development of severe anemia.
Insurance and financial assistance available for HDFN treatment
Several different programs and services are available to help parents with infants diagnosed with HDFN. On its website, the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) has listed various patient assistance programs that can offer financial aid to individuals with a bleeding disorder.
Some of the programs and resources available from the NBDF to help patients with the financial burden of living with a bleeding disorder such as HDFN are sponsored by Bayer, CSL Behring, Genentech, Grifols, Medexus Pharma, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda—all of which are pharmaceutical companies.
More information on financial assistance
Other financial assistance programs are available through the NBDF as well, including the following:
- The PAN Foundation
- Accessia Health, which can assist with certain health insurance premiums
- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief, which helps with co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles
- Hemophilia Federation of America’s Helping Hands Program, which provides emergency assistance for individuals who experience a financial crisis because of a bleeding disorder
- Colburn Keenan Foundation, which offers funding to help with insurance and socio-economic needs
- Your local NBDF chapter, which provides emergency financial assistance
- 211, which links via the United Way to resources that are available in an individual’s local area for specific needs
- An InsourceRx Savings Card can be used to access considerable savings on certain medications
Other patient and survivor support groups available
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine provides a list of high-risk pregnancy support groups that may be helpful to patients with HDFN and their families. These include the Allo Hope Foundation, the online support group known as Ending a Wanted Pregnancy, the Fetal Health Foundation, the Maternal Alloimmunization Foundation, and MoMMA’s (Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advocates) Voices.
You are never alone in your search for organizations and programs in your area that are available to assist with any outstanding needs regarding financial support and insurance coverage for all of your HDFN-associated issues and concerns.
