Rapid, Homogeneous Genotyping of Human Platelet Antigen 1 by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Probe Melting Curves

Abstract

Alloantigenic determinants on platelet membrane glycoproteins can be targets for alloimmune antibody responses that cause bleeding disorders such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, post-transfusion purpura (PTP), and refractoriness to platelet transfusion therapy [1]. In PTP, a transfused patient forms alloantigen-specific antibodies that, for still unknown reasons, may cause destruction of autologous platelets often resulting in life-threatening thrombocytopenia. In feto-maternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, designated as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (NATP), fetal thrombocytopenia is caused by maternal alloimmunization against one or more paternal platelet alloantigens with similar life-threatening complications. Severe NATP may lead to either prenatal or neonatal intracranial haemorrhage that may cause fetal death or psychomoter impairment.