Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is one of the most frequent causes of both severe thrombocytopenia and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in fetuses and term neonates. The diagnosis is established by demonstrating antibodies against human platelet antigens (HPA) and discordance in platelet antigen typing between parents or between the mother and neonate. We report a case of NAIT that was likely due to maternal sensitization to HPA-9b (Max(a)), a recently recognized, rare platelet-specific antigen.
(c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.