Abstract
Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) arises from fetomaternal platelet incompatibility that results in transplacental passage of maternal antibodies mostly against fetal human platelet antigens (HPA), whereas NAIT due to anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of Down syndrome (DS) with NAIT that was attributed to HLA antibodies. A boy with DS was delivered at 36 weeks’ gestation. His platelet count declined to 13.0 × 109/L, suggestive of NAIT rather than other conditions, including transient abnormal myelopoiesis. Random platelet concentrates and intravenous immunoglobulin administration resolved the thrombocytopenia without clinical complications. Immunoserological investigations detected anti-HLA, but no anti-HPA antibodies in samples from the patient and the mother. HLA typing and cross-matching indicated that anti-HLA antibodies to paternal HLA A31 and B61, which had probably been induced during a prior pregnancy, led to NAIT in this case. Although it is a rare condition, healthcare providers should consider NAIT due to HLA antibodies and be vigilant for subsequent cases in DS.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the technical staff of the Department of Blood Transfusion and Transplantation Immunology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine and Japanese Red Cross Kinki Block Blood Center for their exceptional competence with immunoserological testing.
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Shima, E., Go, H., Maeda, H. et al. Down syndrome with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to anti-HLA A31 and B61 antibodies. Int J Hematol 113, 945–949 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-021-03092-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-021-03092-z