Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: effect of heat inactivation of patient's serum on functional flow cytometric assay results.

Background: Heat inactivation of a patient's sample is not systematically performed in the diagnostics of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Some authors recommend that the patient's sample is heat-inactivated to avoid the effect of thrombin on platelet activation in a functional assay. Others do not find this additional step essential or even advise against it.

Severe intracranial haemorrhage in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to antibodies against human platelet antigen 1b: Case report and literature review.

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare life-threatening disorder, leading to severe thrombocytopenia and potentially bleeding, with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) being the most serious complication. We report on a FNAIT case with fourth-degree ICH that arose due to antibodies against human platelet antigen (HPA)-1b. The male infant, born to an otherwise healthy mother, presented with severe signs of ICH soon after delivery.

Platelet transfusion practice and related transfusion reactions in a large teaching hospital.

Background: Platelet transfusion practice varies widely since many aspects of platelet concentrate (PC) use have not been definitively determined. The objectives of this retrospective study were to present platelet transfusion practice and evaluate PC and patient characteristics, as well as their association with transfusion reaction (TR) rate.

Material And Methods: Platelet transfusions over a 5-year period were analysed regarding PC characteristics (the ABO and RhD compatibility, product type, and storage duration), patient characteristics (most responsible diagnosis, age, and gender), and TR type.

K antigens on neonatal red blood cells blocked by anti-K with titer of 32.

The blocking of red blood cell (RBC) antigens occurs when potent maternal antibodies bind to antigens on fetal or neonatal RBCs, causing them to be negative when typed with human IgM antisera. This phenomenon is rare; when it does occur, the antibody is usually of a high titer. This reported finding is typically due to anti-D, with rare reports describing false-negative K phenotyping due to blocking by maternal anti-K.