HPA-1 carrier status and thrombocytopenia in preterm infants with a birth weight below 1500 grams.
OBJECTIVE
In cohorts of infants with proven neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) an unusual high rate of preterm infants has been reported, raising the question of whether NAIT contributes to the high rate of intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants.


METHODS
We genotyped the HPA-1-allele in a large cohort of term (n = 205) and very low birth weight infants (VLBW-infants, n = 299) with polymerase-chain-reaction and restriction enzyme digestion.


RESULTS
HPA-1a/b is the only fetal HPA-1-genotype in which alloimmunization and NAIT could occur. Genotype distribution did not differ between term and VLBW-infants (p = 0.26). Furthermore, neither HPA-1a/b genotype nor platelet count at birth were of significant prognostic value in predicting subsequent intracranial haemorrhage or death in VLBW-infants (p = 0.93 and p = 0.19 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data did not support the hypothesis that routine screening of preterm infants or their mothers for HPA-1-genotype is of additional value in the care of these infants.
Göpel
Wolfgang
W
Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Germany. goepel@paedia.ukl.mu-luebeck.de
Fehlau
Kirstin
K
Kohl
Martina
M
Schultz
Christian
C
Möller
Jens
J
D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000235:genetics*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D039661:Integrin beta3; D007518:Isoantibodies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet; C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039661:Integrin beta3; D007518:Isoantibodies; C083451:human platelet antigen 1b