POSTTRANSFUSION PURPURA AND DELAYED HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTION

TWO women with post-transfusion purpura (PTP) are presented, one with anti-HPA1a and the other with anti-HPA3a antibodies. Platelet-specific antibodies were identified using the platelet immunofluorescence test (PIFT) and the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigen s (MAIPA) assay. Lymphocytotoxic and red cell antibodies were also det ected in both patients, the latter being responsible for a delayed hae molytic transfusion reaction (DHTR). In the patient with anti-HPA1a an tibody, red cell anti-c alloantibody was found in the serum and in the eluate from red cells; it was active in the monocyte monolayer assay (MMA). The patient with anti-HPA3a antibody had the red cell alloantib odies anti-D, -M and -S detected in the serum, the last being responsi ble for DHTR.