An editorial published in the journal Transfusion, discusses the potential for developing anti-human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a prophylactic methods to prevent fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), which occurs in 86 out of every 100,000 live births. Recent work in mouse models suggests that it may be possible to develop a prophylactic antibody for use in susceptible patients to remove or destroy fetal platelets in the maternal circulation. This method would be similar to the current use of anti-D prophylaxis for preventing hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
References:
Kumpel BM. Would it be possible to prevent HPA-1a alloimmunization to reduce the incidence of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia? Transfusion 2012;52: 1393-7.
Tiller H, Killie MK, Chen P, Eksteen M, Husebekk A, Skogen B, Kjeldsen-Kragh J, Ni H. Toward a prophylaxis against fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: induction of antibody-mediated immune suppression and prevention of severe clinical complications in a murine model. Transfusion 2012;52:1446-57.
