Human platelet antigen-specific alloantibodies implicated in 1162 cases of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NATP) caused by fetomaternal mismatch for human platelet (PLT) alloantigens (HPAs) complicates approximately 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 pregnancies and can lead to a serious bleeding diathesis, intracranial hemorrhage, and sometimes death of the fetus or neonate. As a national reference center for NATP investigations, our experience with this entity over a 12-year period was reviewed.

Study Design And Methods: The laboratory records of all cases of suspected NATP referred for evaluation from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2002, were analyzed.

Neonatal neutropenia and bacterial sepsis associated with placental transfer of maternal neutrophil-specific autoantibodies.

Background: Passively acquired neonatal neutropenia is an infrequently reported complication of maternal autoimmune neutropenia (AIN). Two affected siblings are described. The firstborn developed Citrobacter meningitis and was permanently disabled.

Ex vivo cytokine responses against parvovirus B19 antigens in previously infected pregnant women.

Parvovirus B19 infection is a significant cause of fetal death. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of maternal immune status in modulating susceptibility to fetal B19 infection. Peripheral blood was obtained from pregnant women (n = 199) with no clinical evidence of recent B19 infection.

Antenatal screening for human platelet antigen-1a: results of a prospective study at a large maternity hospital in Ireland.

Objective: Fetomaternal mismatch for human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a accounts for approximately 85% of cases of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of the HPA-1a negative platelet phenotype in a cohort of pregnant women in Ireland, the rate of alloimmunisation to HPA-1a in HPA-1 mismatched pregnancies and the associated incidence of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Design: A prospective case-control study.

Outcome of an optional HCV screening program for blood transfusion recipients in Ireland.

Background: An optional (general) HCV testing program for blood and blood component recipients before the introduction of routine donor anti-HCV screening (October 1991) was launched in Ireland in 1995 to complement the targeted lookback program in progress at that time and to identify transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C.

Study Design And Methods: The public were informed of the opportunity to avail of screening by widespread media coverage. Screening was by an initial ELISA (Abbott 3.