Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Febrile nonhaemolytic transfusion reaction caused by antibodies against human platelet antigen 5a.

Tazzari PL, Bontadini A, Zamagni C, Ricci F, Fruet F, Iannelli S, Conte R

Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Service, Azienda Ospedaliera S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.

Anti-human platelet antigens (HPA) alloantibodies are seldom involved in febrile nonhaemolytic reactions (FNHTRs). We describe a case in which anti-HPA-5a alloantibodies are related to an FNHTR. We studied the specificity of the alloantibodies by flow cytometry, ELISA and MACE. Typing of donors and the patient was performed by sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction. The alloantibodies were found reactive with HPA-5a antigens. The patient was HPA-5b/b, whereas the donor of the platelet apheresis involved in the FNHTR was HPA-5a/a. Despite the low frequency of anti-HPA-5a antibodies, they might be responsible for FNHTR.

Published 5 October 2005 in Transfus Med, 15(5): 443-4.
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