Diagnosis and management of the fetus and neonate with alloimmune thrombocytopenia.
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (AIT) is the commonest cause of severe thrombocytopenia in neonates, and of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in term neonates [1] (J Trop Pediatr, 1999; 45: 237). If a newborn is affected with AIT, the next child will likely be more severely affected, and therefore fetal thrombocytopenia will begin early in gestation [2, 3] (Arch Neurol, 1984; 41: 30; N Engl J Med 1997; 337: 22). This creates a risk of in utero ICH even if there was not one in the previous pregnancy. There are new developments in AIT in regard to diagnosis, treatment, and screening which will be the focus of this review.
Bussel
J
J
Platelet Research & Treatment Program, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10065, USA. Jbussel@med.cornell.edu
D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D054098:Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*