Post-transfusion purpura: an enigma of alloimmunization.
A patient with post-transfusion purpura is reported. This female patient, sensitized by previous blood transfusion, developed symptomatic thrombocytopenia seven days after a second blood transfusion. A platelet antibody, which had anti-P1A1 specificity, was identified by 51Cr-release assay and by indirect immunofluorescence. Hemorrhage stopped abruptly after plasma exchange therapy. Thrombocytopenia did not recur when the patient was further challenged with P1A1-positive blood and plasma. Anti-P1A1 antibody, detectable by immunofluorescence but not by complement-dependent platelet cytoxicity, persisted in high titer for at least one year after recovery. The heterogeneity and pathogenesis of this clinical syndrome are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D001323:Autoantibodies