Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

UNLABELLED

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is the commonest cause of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia. FNAIT is usually suspected in neonates with bleeding or severe, unexplained, and/or isolated postnatal thrombocytopenia. Affected fetuses should be managed in referral centers with experience in the ante-natal management of FNAIT. Close collaboration is required between specialists in fetal medicine, obstetrics, hematology/transfusion medicine, and pediatrics. The mother and her partner should be provided with detailed information about FNAIT and its potential clinical consequences, and the benefits and risks of different approaches to ante-natal management. There has been huge progress in the ante-natal management of FNAIT over the last 20 years. However, the ideal effective treatment without significant side effects to the mother or fetus has yet to be determined.

KEY ISSUES

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is a condition that is underdiagnosed.Immunization seldom occurs in the first pregnancy.Immunization takes place in association with delivery in most cases.Anti-HPA-1a level is a predictor for the severity of thrombocytopenia.