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Posttransfusion purpura associated with alloantibody specific for the platelet antigen, Pen a
Author(s) -
Simon Toby L.,
Collins Janice,
Kunicki Thomas J.,
Furihata Kenichi,
Smith Kenneth J.,
Aster Richard H.
Publication year - 1988
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.2830290109
Subject(s) - platelet , medicine , purpura (gastropod) , antigen , immunology , biology , ecology
Posttransfusion purpura (PTP) and severe thrombocytopenia occurred 9 days after transfusion of red blood cells to a 48‐year‐old, multiparous Navajo woman. The platelet count rose to hemostatic levels after treatment with prednisone and three plasma exchange transfusions. Serologic studies showed that the patient's serum contained the potent antibody reactive with platelets from nearly all normal subjects, but nonreactive with autologous platelets obtained after recovery. This antibody was found to be specific for a high‐frequency, platelet‐specific antigen, designated Pen a , implicated previously as an immunogen in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. An exchange of serum showed that Pen a is identical with an alloantigen designated Yuk b by Japanese workers. We conclude that PTP can occur in association with alloimmunization against Pen a (Yuk b ).