Fetal Erythrocyte Lifespan

Abstract

Harrison, K. L. (1979) Aust. Paediatr. J. , 15, 96–97. Fetal erythrocyte lifespan. The demonstration of fetal erythrocytes in the maternal circulation by the Kleihauer technique after feto‐maternal macrotransfusion provides a means of measuring the lifespan of those cells produced at the time of the haemorrhage. Two cases of massive feto‐maternal haemorrhage at 40 weeks gestation and one at 36 weeks gestation are used, together with a published case at 34 weeks gestation. to show that erythrocyte lifespan is quite short in fetal life and increases during the third trimester to be 80 to 90 days in a full term infant.