Anti-human platelet antigen-5b antibodies and fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia; incidental association or cause and effect?

Br J Haematol. 2022 Jul;198(1):14-23. doi: 10.1111/bjh.18173. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Abstract

Most cases of fetal and neonatal thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) are caused by maternal anti-human platelet antigen-1a antibodies (anti-HPA-1a). Anti-HPA-5b antibodies are the second most common antibodies in suspected FNAIT cases. Given the high prevalence of anti-HPA-5b antibodies in pregnant women delivering healthy newborns, the association with FNAIT may be coincidental. This review of the literature related to FNAIT using the MEDLINE database was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. A retrospective analysis of a single-centre cohort of 817 suspected FNAIT cases was conducted. The pooled prevalence of anti-HPA-5b antibodies in unselected pregnant women of European descent was 1.96% (n = 3113), compared with 3.4% (n = 5003) in women with suspected FNAIT. We found weak evidence that a small proportion of pregnant women presenting with anti-HPA-5b antibodies will give birth to a newborn with mild thrombocytopenia. The neonatal platelet counts were not different between suspected FNAIT cases (n = 817) with and without maternal anti-HPA-5b antibodies. The prevalence of maternal anti-HPA-5b antibodies was not different between neonates with intracranial haemorrhage and healthy controls. The current experimental and epidemiological evidence does not support the hypothesis that anti-HPA-5b antibodies cause severe thrombocytopenia or bleeding complications in the fetus or newborn.

Keywords: anti-HPA-5b; fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia; fetal medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Human Platelet* / immunology
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Fetal Diseases* / immunology
  • Fetus
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases*
  • Integrin beta3
  • Platelet Count
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune* / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune* / immunology

Substances

  • 5b alloantigen, human
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Human Platelet
  • Integrin beta3