Abstract

MOREIRA, Amélia; VALE, Maria José; NEVES, Joana  and  DIAS, Clara Paz. Severe neonatal thrombocytopenia. Nascer e Crescer [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.1, pp.20-22. ISSN 0872-0754.

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia in the first hours of life is generally due to maternal factors or perinatal events. Alloimune thrombocytopenia, although underdiagnosed, is the most frequent type of severe thrombocytopenia in a term and otherwise healthy newborn, resulting from an immune mediated destruction of foetal/neonatal platelets by maternal alloantibodies. Case report: We present the case of a newborn with alloimune thrombocytopenia, a typical clinical presentation and good outcome, highlighting the positive impact in the prognosis of a high index of suspicion and of empirical treatment with HPA-1a negative platelets. Conclusion: An early diagnosis of this entity allows effective treatment with the infusion of compatible platelets, preventing eventual complications, namely intracranial haemorrhage. Also guides the monitoring of future pregnancies and antenatal treatment.

Keywords : alloimune thrombocytopenia; HPA-1a negative platelets; term newborn.

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