Management of infants born with severe neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: the role of platelet transfusions and intravenous immunoglobulin.

Background: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is a fetomaternal incompatibility most commonly induced by maternal anti-HPA-1a alloantibodies. Transfusion of immunologically compatible platelets (PLTs) to prevent cerebral hemorrhage, the most severe complication in affected newborns, is usually recommended. Such PLT concentrates, however, are often not readily available.

The Canadian Transfusion Surveillance System: what is it and how can the data be used?

Hemovigilance systems are important programs for: monitoring trends of known risks; evaluating effectiveness of steps taken to reduce risks; providing data to support recommendations for change and guideline development; and contributing overall to the safety of transfusion. The Transfusion Transmitted Injury Surveillance System is the hemovigilance system implemented in Canada. It evolved in 1999 as a pilot program and expanded across Canada in 2005.

Misleading hepatitis B test results due to intravenous immunoglobulin administration: implications for a clinical trial of rituximab in immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Rituximab may cause reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) even in patients with remote HBV infection. Thus, the presence of hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) was an exclusion criterion for a randomized trial of rituximab for patients with immune thrombocytopenia. A high seroprevalence of anti-HBc observed among patients screened for the trial prompted this substudy to investigate for an association between anti-HBc seropositivity and exposure to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

A systematic review and survey of the management of unexpected neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Unexpected neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) may have devastating consequences and its management is challenging. To design future trials, evidence from the literature and existing best practice need review.

Study Design And Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey of neonatal units in Germany and Canada to determine management strategies of NAIT and a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs).