Noninvasive diagnostics of fetal KEL*01.01 allele from maternal plasma of immunized women using digital PCR protocols.

Unlabelled: Allo-antibodies produced by K-negative pregnant women against a fetal K antigen from the Kell blood group system may cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Predicting the fetal K antigen using noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is important for decisions concerning management of pregnancies. Digital and droplet digital PCR techniques permit the detection of fetal single nucleotide variant with a higher specificity and sensitivity than real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Prediction of fetal blood group and platelet antigens from maternal plasma using next-generation sequencing.

Background: Fetuses whose mothers have produced antibodies to red blood cell (RBC) or platelet antigens are at risk of being affected by hemolytic disease or alloimmune thrombocytopenia, respectively, only if they inherit the incompatible antigen. Noninvasive diagnosis of the fetal antigen is employed for management of immunized pregnancies, but the specific detection of SNPs, encoding the majority of antigens, in maternal plasma is still a challenge. We applied targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to predict the fetal antigen based on the detection of fetomaternal chimerism.

Identification and follow-up of pregnant women with platelet-type human platelet antigen (HPA)-1bb alloimmunized with fetal HPA-1a.

Introduction: Pregnant women negative for human platelet antigen 1a (HPA-1a) are at risk of alloimmunization with fetal HPA-1a antigen inherited from the father, and their offspring may develop fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of HPA-1a alloimmunization in pregnant Polish women, the feasibility of using maternal platelets for intrauterine transfusions in women subjected to diagnostic fetal blood sampling (FBS) and to discuss potential consequences of alloimmunization.

Material And Methods: Fifteen thousand two hundred and four pregnant women were typed for HPA-1a; HPA-1a negative were screened for anti-HPA-1a.

Recent advances in understanding the clinical relevance of antiplatelet alloantibodies.

Alloimmunization to human platelet antigens (HPAs) may occur either during pregnancy, when a HPA‑negative mother gives birth to a newborn who inherits HPAs from the father, or following blood transfusion or stem cell transplantation. Antiplatelet alloantibodies do not cause thrombocytopenia in a patient, but their detection must always be recorded in medical records because they may induce fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia in present and all subsequent pregnancies, platelet refractoriness, posttransfusion purpura, or prolonged thrombocytopenia with engraftment failure after stem cell transplantation. Passive transfer of platelet alloantibodies through transfused blood components may trigger thrombocytopenia and severe posttransfusion reactions in the recipient.

[Standardization of the quantitative flow cytometric test with anti-D antibodies for fetomaternal hemorrhage in RhD negative women].

Background: In order to determine the appropriate dose of anti-D immunoglobulin to be administered as a preventive measure against hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn in the subsequent pregnancy it is necessary to assess the number of fetal red blood cells that infiltrate/penetrate into the maternal circulation as a result of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH). One of the quantitative methods of FMH analysis is based on flow cytometry (FACS) which makes use of monoclonal antibodies to RhD antigen (anti-D test). The aim of the study was to further develop the method, evaluate its sensitivity and reproducibility and to compare it with the test based on the detection of fetal hemoglobin (HbF).

[Maternal blood intrauterine transfusions in the therapy of red-cell alloimmunization performed in three difficult cases].

Maternal alloimmunization can lead to hemolytic anemia, hydrops fetalis and even fetal or neonatal death. Intrauterine treatment is possible and effective even though it is associated with some risk. We present a rare method of maternal blood intrauterine transfusions in the therapy of three difficult cases of erythroblastosis fetalis.

[Hairy cell leukemia in pregnancy].

Pregnancy complicated by HCL is an extremlely rare event: only 5 report of HCL in pregnancy have been previously described. A 36-year-old women was diagnosed of HCL presented in 14 week of her 5th pregnancy. Therapy was initiated in 18 wk of gestation with IFN-alpha at dose 6 x 106 U subcutaneous 3 times per week and prednisone 20 mg/d.

[Bernard-Soulier syndrome during pregnancy: a case report].

The Bernard-Soulier syndrome (B-S s.) is rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. It is characterized by prolonged bleeding time, fail to agglutinate with ristocetin and a normal to decreased number of unusually large platelets whose membrane lack glycoproteins complex GP Ib/IX/V.