IVIG therapy in neonatal isoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and alloimmunization thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

Alloimmunization to HLA and other surface antigens expressed on human platelets is a major cause of refractoriness to platelet- transfusion therapy in patients with idiopathic and iatrogenic bone- marrow-failure syndromes. Maternal alloimmunization to antigens expressed on paternal platelets can cause thrombocytopenia in the fetus and newborn infant if their platelets express the paternal antigens. Each of these clinical conditions can be associated with significant bleeding episodes and life-threatening hemorrhage. Recently, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been shown to be beneficial in clinical management of these diseases. This report will summarize the uses of IVIG therapy in thrombocytopenic conditions secondary to alloimmune disease.KeywordsPlatelet TransfusionIVIG TherapyFetal Blood SamplingPaternal AntigenFetal PlateletThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.