Antibody studies in a patient with acute thrombocytopenia following infusion of plasma containing anti-PI(A1).
Immune thrombocytopenia due to passive transfer of anti-PI(A1) alloantibody has been noted as a rare but potentially dangerous complication of plasma transfusions. We report a patient with a preoperative platelet count of 241 x 10(9)/l who developed severe thrombocytopenia within 2 hr following transfusion of 2 U of fresh frozen plasma. The plasma donor was found to be a PI(A1)-negative woman. The platelet count of the PI(A1)-positive patient recovered within 7 days to normal values. In the frozen plasma, excessive antibody binding to GPIIb-IIIa on the recipient's platelets was detected. The antibody was shown to have anti-PI(A1)-specificity. Only 40 min after transfusion of the frozen plasma, no antibody was detected in the plasma of the recipient. This case suggests that passively administered anti-PI(A1) alloantibody is immediately adsorbed onto the recipient's platelets and thus removed from circulation.
Brunner-Bolliger
S
S
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
Kiefel
V
V
Horber
F F
FF
Nydegger
U E
UE
Berchtold
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000276:immunology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet; D007518:Isoantibodies; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex