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The Natural History of Alloimmunization to Platelets
Author(s) -
Howard J. E.,
Perkins H. A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1978.18478251250.x
Subject(s) - platelet , medicine , antibody , immunology , platelet transfusion , antigen , human leukocyte antigen , isoantibodies
Sixty‐three patients have provided evidence that platelets are highly immunogenic even in recipients of potentially immunosuppressive therapy for malignant diseases. Approximately 70 per cent of patients who receive repeated transfusions of platelets from random donors over a prolonged period can be expected to develop lymphocytotoxic antibodies. Antibodies became detectable in one patient ten days after his first exposure to HLA antigens in the form of platelet concentrates, and as early as four days in two patients with prior exposure to HLA antigens. In the most heavily immunized patients, the presence of antibody correlated with poor increments of platelets after transfusion. Patients with prior exposure to HLA antigens are more likely to have antibodies resulting in poor platelet survival. On the other hand, 30 per cent of recipients of repeated platelet transfusions show no tendency to form cytotoxic antibodies.