[Unexpected thrombocytopenia in newborn infants].

Severe thrombopenia of the newborn involves appreciable morbidity and mortality. Effective treatment exists for all forms of neonatal thrombopenia. Swiftest possible correction of thrombopenia must be the prime aim of all measures. Delaying of effective treatment due to workup must be avoided. If there is suspicion of nAIT, effective results have been achieved with transfusion of irradiated and washed maternal thrombocytes, and with immunoglobulin therapy in the case of suspected thrombopenia due to maternal autoantibodies (ITP or SLE). Transfusion of unselected thrombocytes is the therapy of choice in non-immune thrombopenia, and in immune thrombopenias it serves as an emergency measure if there is a high bleeding risk.