Q: I am a 20 years old girl and want to know which blood group person should I marry as I have Rh-negative to avoid problems of child birth. Do neurofibromas, if continuing for about four generations, reduce from generation to generation? This has happened in my family where my great grandmother had big neurofibromas, my grandmother had fewer than that, my mother had them on the face and some parts of the body and I have started developing them on my face and some parts of my body. Is there any preventive medicine in homeopathy?

A:Rh Blood Group The Rh (rhesus) factor is a protein (antigen) present on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). As it was first discovered in the rhesus monkey, it has been so named. Individuals carrying this antigen are called Rh-positive (Rh+) blood group type while those lacking it are Rh-negative (Rh-). Rh incompatibility (or Rh disease) is a state in which a woman with Rh-negative blood group is exposed to Rh-positive RBCs leading to the formation of antibodies against this protein (called Rh antibodies). This process of Rh sensitisation can occur when an Rh-negative woman is carrying an Rh-positive baby or if an Rh-negative woman receives blood transfusion containing Rh-positive cells. In either case, her immune system is exposed to the Rh antigen (which is foreign to her body) and begins producing Rh antibodies. The problem of Rh incompatibility is of clinical importance only in a pregnant woman or if blood transfusion is required. These circulating antibodies in a woman's blood are otherwise harmless. Rh incompatibility can commonly cause haemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) in the woman (when she receives Rh+ blood) or hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in which the baby's red cells are destroyed resulting in anaemia and jaundice. Most institutions give human anti-D immune globulin (Rh IgG) ante-natally to Rh-negative pregnant women. If a woman has been already sensitised, she needs to get the antibody titres estimated and be closely monitored during pregnancy. Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder that can affect several systems of the body like the nervous system, soft tissue, skin and bone. There are several clinical variants of the disease but the 2 main subtypes are peripheral neurofibromatosis (NF-1) and central neurofibromatosis 2 (NF-2). Nearly 50% of cases are due to a new mutation and they have no history of the disorder in their family while the rest inherit the defective gene from their affected parent. The disease is caused by a mutation affecting the NF1 gene and only 1 affected gene is required to cause the manifestation(s) of the disease. The gene is very penetrant i.e. all people who have such a gene will show some symptoms of the disease. But the gene has variable expressivity, which means that symptoms of variable severity are seen in different members of the same family. The severity of the disease depends on the kind of mutation (with over 250 different types being described) but the most severe form is seen when the gene is completely deleted. Genetic testing (gene sequencing) is available to detect the gene or confirm the diagnosis. Pre-natal diagnosis can also be done. There is no cure or specific treatment for NF. Asymptomatic patients should undergo regular annual check-up. Treatment (in the form of surgery or radiation) is given in case a patient is symptomatic. Painful tumors in superficial location are surgically removed while radiation is an option when surgery is not possible. We are not competent to comment on Homeopathy.