Wednesday, November 12, 2025 / 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Topic:
Targeting FcRn in Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN)
Speaker:
Krystalyn E. Hudson, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Co-Director of the Laboratory of Transfusion Biology
Columbia University
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Krystalyn E. Hudson is an Associate Professor at Columbia University and Co-Director of the Laboratory of Transfusion Biology. She received her PhD from Emory University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Hudson’s NIH funded research focuses on immune responses to red blood cells (RBCs), which is relevant for transfusion medicine, pregnancy, and transplantation.
Abstract:
Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) arises when maternal IgG alloantibodies cross the placenta and target fetal red blood cells (RBCs), leading to their destruction and/or suppression. While anti-D alloantibodies are the most common cause—and can be prevented with anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis—HDFN can also result from other alloantibodies, such as those directed against the Kell blood group system, for which no approved prophylactic therapies currently exist.
An emerging therapeutic approach for HDFN involves targeting the neonatal Fc Receptor (FcRn), a key regulator of IgG homeostasis and transplacental IgG transfer. FcRn protects IgG from lysosomal degradation and mediates its transport across epithelial barriers, including the placenta. Inhibiting FcRn accelerates IgG degradation and may reduce maternal IgG antibody from reaching the fetus, thereby attenuating HDFN severity. This presentation will review HDFN and discuss the current clinical landscape of FcRn-targeted therapies in HDFN.
Objectives:
At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
- Describe HDFN
- Explain potential anti-D mechanisms
- Discuss the potential benefits and risks of targeting FcRn
Disclosures:
None
Pricing:
- Members: FREE (Registration is required.)
- Non-Members: $45 per session & $130 entire series
- Institutions: $75 per session & $200 entire series
To receive member pricing, be sure to sign in.
