The therapeutic value of HPA-1a-negative platelet transfusion in post-transfusion purpura complicated by life-threatening haemorrhage.

Post-transfusion purpura (PTP) was diagnosed in a female patient 1 week after transfusion for hysterectomy. Despite treatment with oral steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, platelet counts remained low, and the patient developed profuse rectal bleeding. Random platelet transfusion is reported to be ineffective in PTP. We report a case in which the transfusion of HPA-la negative platelets provided good increment and clinical haemostasis before intravenous immunoglobulin could have had an effect.