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Definition of Rh factor
1. Noun. A blood group antigen possessed by Rh-positive people; if an Rh-negative person receives a blood transfusion from an Rh-positive person it can result in hemolysis and anemia.
Medical Definition of Rh factor
1. An antigen that may or may notbe present on the surface of human bloodcells. If a person's blood has the antigen, their blood type ispositive, if they do not, it is negative. The Rh factor isimportant mainly because if a woman who is Rh- conceives a child who is Rh+, themixing of their bloods in the placenta may provoke an immune reaction in the mother that can cause a life-threatening agglutination of the foetus'blood cells.The Rh factor is so named because it was first identified in Rhesus monkeys. See: ABO blood group. (09 Oct 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Rh Factor
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