ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia in the Irish population: a discrepancy between observed and expected cases

A Davoren¹, P McParland², C A Barnes¹, W G Murphy¹

¹ Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland
² National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A Davoren, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland;
annedavoren{at}eircom.net

Aims: To estimate the rate of detection of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAITP) in the Irish population, to investigate clinical presentation and outcome in affected infants, and to determine the extent, if any, to which this condition is underdiagnosed at present.

Methods: Cases were collected in a retrospective fashion from a review of platelet serology laboratory records from January 1992 to December 2000. Clinical data were obtained from hospital records. Testing for maternal antiplatelet antibody was by one or more of the following: the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test, a commercial antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (GTI-PakPlus^TM), and the monoclonal antibody immobilisation of platelet antigens assay. Platelet antigen typing was by the polymerase chain reaction technique with sequence specific primers.

Results: Twenty seven serologically verified cases of NAITP were identified in 18 families. Maternal antibody to human platelet antigen 1a accounted for 25 of the 27 confirmed cases. Twenty one of 26 infants were born with severe thrombocytopenia. Nineteen of 27 infants had bleeding manifestations at birth. Petechiae and bruising were most commonly observed (n = 17). There were no documented cases of intracranial haemorrhage in this group but systematic cranial ultrasound was not performed.

Conclusions: Screening studies in predominantly white populations have estimated the incidence of NAITP to be between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2000 live births. With 50 000 births each year in Ireland, these results give a clinical detection rate for NAITP of just 1 case in 16 500 live births, strongly suggesting that NAITP is currently underdiagnosed. Antenatal screening to detect women at risk of having babies with NAITP is now scientifically feasible and should be considered.

Keywords: neonatal; alloimmune thrombocytopenia; Ireland

Abbreviations: ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; HDN, haemolytic disease of the newborn; ICH, intracranial haemorrhage; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin; MAIPA, monoclonal antibody specific immobilisation of platelet antigen assay; NAITP, neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia; PCR-SSP, polymerase chain reaction technique with sequence specific primers; PSIFT, platelet suspension immunofluorescence test;

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Roberts, I, Murray, N A (2003). Neonatal thrombocytopenia: causes and management. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 88: F359-F364 [Abstract] [Full Text]