Placenta
Nonneoplastic placental conditions and abnormalities
Noninfectious
Erythroblastosis
Author: Mandolin S. Ziadie, M.D.
Last author update: 1 October 2011
Last staff update: 29 October 2020
Copyright: 2002-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Erythroblastosis [title] placenta
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Etiology | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Ziadie MS. Erythroblastosis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/placentafetalnrbc.html. Accessed April 18th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Nucleated fetal red blood cells (nRBCs) are common in preterm placentas but are an abnormal finding in placentas at term
Etiology
- nRBCs reflect a response to fetal hypoxia or anemia due to a variety of causes including uteroplacental insufficiency, abruption, maternal diabetes, hemolytic disease of the newborn / ABO incompatibility, chronic fetomaternal transfusion, acute blood loss or chromosomal disorders
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Red cells that are smaller than nonnucleated red cells and have round, basophilic nuclei with smooth nuclear surfaces, surrounded by a thin rim of eosinophilic cytoplasm
- Number of cells per 10 HPF is counted
- Grading: mild (cells are easily found in preterm placentae and are rare / occasional at term), moderate (cells easily found at all gestations) and severe (markedly increased cells at all gestations, with at least one in each HPF)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Placental hydropic change accompanied by increased fetal erythroblasts and nucleated RBCs in fetal vessels in villi
