Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare disease, affecting one out of 1,000–2,000 pregnancies. FNAIT occurs when a pregnant woman produces alloantibodies against a human platelet antigen (HPA) while carrying an HPA-incompatible fetus. During pregnancy, IgG-class antibodies, and thus HPA alloantibodies, are transferred to the fetus. HPA alloantibodies induce destruction of fetal platelets and suppression of platelet production, often leading to severe thrombocytopenia and a bleeding tendency. In severe cases, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) can result. To date, 41 HPAs have been identified, with HPA distributions varying between ethnic populations.
In this webinar, Prof. Masja de Haas will discuss various aspects of HPA-1a-mediated FNAIT and provide an update on its pathophysiology, diagnostic testing procedures, and treatment options.
Masja de Haas
MD, PhD
Masja de Haas (MD, PhD) is director Medical Affairs of Sanquin Blood Supply, consultant immunohematology for the national Immunohematology Expertise and professor in Immunohematology at the Leiden University Medical Center, in the Netherlands. She has over 25 years of experience in transfusion medicine. Her research interests are auto-and alloimmune-mediated blood cell destruction. Together with the national Fetal Therapy Center at the Leiden University of Medical Center, she is responsible for the evaluation and design of optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies for pregnancies complicated by red blood cell or platelet antibodies.