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Post‐transfusion purpura associated with alloimmunization against the platelet‐specific antigen, bak a
Author(s) -
Keimowitz Rudolph M.,
Collins Janice,
Davis Kent,
Aster Richard H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830210110
Subject(s) - platelet , antibody , antigen , immunology , medicine , thrombocytopenic purpura , purpura (gastropod) , serology , prednisone , isoantibodies , blood transfusion , platelet transfusion , isoantigens , biology , ecology
Post‐transfusion purpura (PTP) with severe thrombocytopenia occurred eight days after transfusion in a 28‐year‐old woman and responded to treatment with prednisone and plasma exchange. In contrast to nearly all previously studied cases of PTP, the patient's platelets were PI AI ‐positive and anti‐PI AI antibody could not be detected in serum obtained during the thrombocytopenic episode. Her serum was found to contain an antibody specific for a recently described platelet‐specific alloantigen, Bak a , in addition to multiple HLA‐specific antibodies. The patient's platelets, typed following recovery, were Bak a ‐negative. These findings indicate that post‐transfusion purpura can occur in association with alloimmunization to platelet‐specific antigens other than PI AI . In performing the serologic studies, a close relationship and possible identity between Bak a and another recently reported platelet antigen, Lek a , was observed. A method for analyzing mixtures of cytotoxic platelet‐reactive antibodies without separating the individual antibodies is described.